Anne MercadoImagine settling in for a long-haul flight, only to have the bathroom door decide to take a vacation of its own! That’s what happened on a recent Cathay Pacific flight (CX840) from Hong Kong to New York on 15 Jul 2024. The Cathay Pacific toilet door incident has gained attention online because of the crew’s quick wittedness.
Also read: Severe Turbulence Causes Korean Air Emergency Landing
What we know about the Cathay Pacific toilet door incident
According to reports from the South China Morning Post, the not-so-smooth journey began with a slight delay. The flight, originally scheduled to depart Hong Kong International Airport at 4.15 pm, didn’t take off until 5.06 pm. A minor hitch pushed back the departure time, but the real adventure began at cruising altitude.
Apparently, a toilet door decided to malfunction, coming loose from its hinges. Thankfully, a resourceful flight attendant was on the scene to prevent a complete bathroom breakdown. A photo uploaded online by a passenger (hsu_kk) captured this heroic act, showing the flight attendant holding the wayward door in place, leaning it against the adjacent wall.
While the in-flight repairs might seem like something out of a sitcom, it highlights the dedication and quick thinking of Cathay Pacific’s crew. Another photo by hsu_kk showed a group of flight attendants seemingly collaborating to address the situation.
Minor delay on the flight
The minor turbulence in the lavatory didn’t significantly impact the overall flight time. The 16-hour journey from Hong Kong to New York only experienced a slight delay upon arrival at JFK Airport, landing at 9.08pm instead of the originally scheduled 8.35pm.
Cathay Pacific has acknowledged the incident and confirmed that their engineering team is investigating the cause of the faulty door. While a malfunctioning toilet door is certainly an inconvenience, it’s reassuring to know that Cathay Pacific’s crew was able to handle the situation professionally and ensure a safe and relatively on-time arrival for their passengers.
Also read: Singapore Airlines Turbulence Incident Causes Emergency Landing
Cathay Pacific’s crew is ready for anything, even a rogue lavatory door! So, next time you fly, rest assured — turbulence is a breeze compared to their skills.
Featured image credit: @hsu_kk | Threads
