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| CATHAY PACIFIC AIRBUS A350-941 B-LRJ (MSN 061) |
Flight CX156 was traveling from Brisbane (BNE/YBBN) to Hong Kong (HKG/VHHH) on Saturday when the Airbus A350 suddenly dropped about two hours before landing. Cathay Pacific reported that 10 people were injured, including six crew members and four passengers. After landing safely in Hong Kong around 6:45 am local time, medical teams boarded the plane, and eight of the injured were taken to nearby hospitals. Cairns's businessman Nicholas Stevenson, who was on board, described the moment as the “plane just dropped,” with phones flying, coffees hitting the roof, and food scattered everywhere.
Mr. Stevenson described how the turbulence hit without warning just as the cabin crew began serving breakfast on the overnight flight. The lights had come on, passengers were waking up, and meals were being handed out, with no seatbelt sign or prior alert. The plane dropped twice in quick succession, the first plunge catching everyone off guard, and the second hitting about 15 to 20 seconds later. Those who had just gotten back into their seats or grabbed onto something were tossed around again. The force of the turbulence sent unsecured passengers and objects flying, with anyone not wearing a seatbelt hitting the ceiling hard.
He said the cabin crew seemed to suffer the worst injuries because they were in the aisles with heavy service carts when the aircraft suddenly dropped. The staff were not only thrown but also struck by the carts as they flew into them. Mr. Stevenson recalled that passengers only grasped the seriousness of the situation when announcements went out asking if any doctors were on board. Four doctors travelling on the flight helped treat injured crew members and passengers at the back of the plane while it continued toward Hong Kong, as there was nowhere else to land. The pilot later apologised and explained they had encountered an unexpected weather system, likely a thunder or lightning cell, which wasn’t visible on radar until the last moment due to darkness. Medical teams were waiting when they landed, and passengers were asked to remain seated so the injured could disembark first. Mr. Stevenson, unharmed thanks to keeping his seatbelt fastened, said he felt there wasn’t much anyone could do in such a situation, recalling his father’s advice from his air force days to just stay strapped in and hope for the best.
Aircraft Information:
Airline: Cathay Pacific
Code: CX/CPA
Aircraft: Airbus A350-941
Registration: B-LRV
Serial Number: 154
Engines: Rolls-Royce Trent XWB-84
First Flew: 10th October 2017
Age: 8.7 Years
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