Hyderabad: A Cathay Pacific aircraft bound for Hong Kong from the city returned to the Shamshabad airport and made an emergency landing early on Sunday. All passengers and crew aboard Flight CS-646 were stated to be safe.
Airline officials said the aircraft returned due to a technical problem in one of the engines. Some reports claimed the aircraft returned due to a bird hit but Cathay Pacific officials said there was no possibility of such an incident in the early hours.
A source said the aircraft with 244 passengers took off at 2.04 am. “After flying for about 15 minutes, it returned to the airport and made an emergency landing at 2.22 am. The passengers were provided accommodation by Cathay Pacific,” the source said.
Till last reports came in, engineers were working on the engine. Passengers protested at the terminal demanding an immediate alternative.
Three passengers said they had emergency work in Hong Kong.
Airline officials accommodated them on a 7.20 am Jet Airways flight to Mumbai for onward travel to Hong Kong.
Official sources said the remaining 241 passengers were provided accommodation and the airline was arranging alternative flights for them in phases. “All passengers left for Hong Kong by Sunday evening. They were accommodated on Jet Airways, Malaysia Airlines, Air India, Etihad and Silk Air flights, the source said.
