Cathay sorry as unruly traveller on Hong Kong-US flight causes 15-hour delay

A US-bound Cathay Pacific Airways flight was diverted to Tokyo before returning to Hong Kong on Sunday because of an unruly passenger, causing a delay of nearly 15 hours for travellers on board.

Cathay Pacific flight 812 took off from Hong Kong International Airport on Saturday at around 7.40pm, heading for the United States city of Boston.

But the service was diverted to Tokyo’s Haneda airport to deal with the disruptive passenger, according to a Post reporter on board.

Social media users who posted details of the ordeal online said the passenger had assaulted others on the flight and was arrested by police in Tokyo.

After a layover in the Japanese capital, the flight departed for Hong Kong at 3.15am on Sunday and landed at around 7.15am.

Passengers boarded another plane in Hong Kong, with a different crew, before departing again at 10.30am.

The carrier provided each passenger a HK$150 (US$19) meal voucher.