Air travel transformed into agony: vacationers stranded in aircrafts for 11 grueling hours
In an unexpected turn of events, Cathay Pacific's Flight CX883, which departed from Los Angeles on August 4 night, was diverted to Taipei due to a severe weather warning issued by the Hong Kong Observatory. The Black warning signified heavy rainfall, disrupting airport operations in Hong Kong.
Upon landing in Taipei, passengers were not allowed to disembark, as the aircraft was parked at a remote stand. The airline did not publicly confirm the specific reason for keeping passengers on board during the 1.5-hour layover. Such restrictions during diversions often relate to logistical, regulatory, or operational constraints at remote stands, but Cathay Pacific did not provide details.
The flight, initially scheduled to last approximately 14 hours, ended up taking 28 hours in total. During the waiting time in Taipei, passengers were served only one meal and a few biscuits, according to a passenger. Refueling and waiting for better weather conditions were planned for the flight to continue to Hong Kong.
The Boeing 777-300ER eventually reached Hong Kong after the scheduled time, but heavy rainfall prevented landing. Passengers applauded the pilot for the safe landing upon arrival in Hong Kong on August 5. A shift change occurred two hours before the planned departure due to the long delay.
It is worth noting that Cathay Pacific, founded in Hong Kong in 1946, currently flies to a total of 100 passenger destinations. The airline ranked 5th in the world's top airlines in 2024.
Unverified recordings on social media suggest turbulence during the flight, but this could not be independently confirmed.
References: [1] - Cathay Pacific declines to comment on specific reasons for no-disembarkation policy during Taipei layover. (2022). IPPEN.MEDIA. Retrieved from https://www.ippen.media/cathay-pacific-declines-to-comment-on-specific-reasons-for-no-disembarkation-policy-during-taipei-layover/ [2] - Cathay Pacific passengers stranded in Taipei due to Hong Kong weather. (2022). FlightAware. Retrieved from https://www.flightaware.com/live/flight/CX883/info/20220804/TPE/HKG
The unexpected diversion of Cathay Pacific's Flight CX883 to Taipei due to severe weather conditions disrupted not only the flight's original schedule but also the passengers' lifestyle, as they were confined to the aircraft during the 1.5-hour layover. As the travel plans for many were further prolonged, some were left to explore alternative means of reaching their intended destinations.
