‘Serious incident’ probed as HK Express plane hits signs after landing

Hong Kong aviation authorities are investigating a “serious incident” involving an HK Express flight suspected of deviating from its designated runway after landing and hitting some signboards amid a typhoon.

The Air Accident Investigation Authority said on Monday that a team was collecting information and identifying areas for further investigation or lines of inquiry to follow up.

The authority, which is an independent investigation body under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, said it was conducting the probe into what it called a “serious incident” to prevent similar events from happening in the future.

HK Express is the budget arm of Hong Kong’s flag carrier, Cathay Pacific Airways.

Flight UO235, which was travelling from Beijing with 137 passengers and crew members, was reported to have stopped in a grassy area and was suspected of hitting the signage boards after landing on Monday morning, police and the Airport Authority earlier said.

No injuries were reported, but passengers were forced to wait on the plane for more than an hour after it landed.