A Cathay Pacific flight from Sydney to Hong Kong was unable to depart because one of its pilots was suspended by the airline for allegedly failing a pre-departure alcohol breath test.
Flight CX110 had been scheduled to depart Sydney at 7.35am on Wednesday for Hong Kong, but was delayed for more than a day as it was left without sufficient flight crew after the second officer failed to adhere to Cathay Pacific’s alcohol and other drugs policy, the airline alleged in a statement.
The junior pilot’s failed alcohol test was initially reported by Hong Kong newspaper the South China Morning Post, with Cathay Pacific later issuing a statement that it was “aware of the reports and we are maintaining close communication with the relevant authorities”.
“The Second Officer in question has been suspended from flying duties with immediate effect pending a full investigation,” the airline said.
Cathay Pacific said “safety is our overriding priority and we have a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance” with its alcohol and other drugs policy.
Any individual confirmed to have breached its policy “will be summarily dismissed in accordance with our long-standing procedures”.
Cathay Pacific said it conducts random alcohol and drug tests on its pilots in Hong Kong, and that further random testing is conducted by authorities at foreign airports.
The airline’s limit for pilots is 0.02% blood alcohol content.
In Australia, the Civil Aviation Safety Authority conducts random alcohol and drug tests of airline and aviation workers, including pilots and engineers.
A Casa spokesperson said the agency did not comment on individual cases.
The flight was delayed from a 7.35am Wednesday departure to instead leave at 10.35am on Thursday, for the nine-and-a-half-hour flight from Sydney to Hong Kong.
Cathay Pacific is understood to have deployed a replacement second officer to Sydney to join the delayed flight.
Some affected customers were placed on to alternative flights leaving Sydney before the delayed flight departed.
“We sincerely apologise for any inconvenience caused,” the airline said in a statement.
