Video | Hong Kong aviation authority demands answers from Cathay on why passenger filmed in cockpit
Online storm over passenger's photos of landing at Chek Lap Kok, but airline confirms employees and their families can ride with the pilots
The Civil Aviation Department will ask Cathay Pacific for an explanation after photographs and a video of a Cathay flight landing at Chek Lap Kok airport, posted on Weibo by someone who said she captured them from inside the cockpit, caused a stir online.
But the outrage may be unwarranted, as Cathay allows employees and their immediate family members to ride in the cockpit jump seat, in accordance with government guidelines.
The passenger, Ada Ng Tsz-yan, posted the video and six photos on her Weibo microblog this week. One photo was of her boarding pass, which indicated she was assigned the jump seat.
Commenters on multiple internet news and social media platforms expressed outrage that the woman was allowed to ride up front. The department said it was "seeking clarification from the concerned airlines". In her post dated Tuesday, Ng said the flight was full and she was fortunate the captain allowed her to sit behind him in the cabin.
"Experiencing the take-off and landing inside the cockpit is very cool," she wrote.
WATCH: Woman allowed by captain to sit in Cathay Pacific flight's cockpit
Ng added that airline employees and their family could sit in the cockpit, but she did not say in her post whether she was either of those.
"Cathay Pacific permits approved persons under the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department guidelines to apply for the use of the jump seat," an airline spokeswoman said. "Eligible applicants include Cathay Pacific employees and their immediate family members."
The spokeswoman would not reveal whether the woman was an employee or family member, citing privacy concerns. But she said if the ticket was marked JMP, it meant she was appropriately assigned the jump seat.
One picture Ng posted to Weibo showed an air ticket bearing her name. It suggested the trip was flight CX465 from Taipei to Hong Kong on February 26, and it bore the JMP mark.
The spokeswoman could not immediately say whether Cathay had a policy against filming or using electronics in the cockpit. Cathay's website indicates that "small handheld portable electronic devices" may be used throughout the flight, including during takeoff and landing.
Other images showed views of what was believed to be a runway at Chek Lap Kok, with a row of other planes on one side.
Commenters on Sina's news website did not approve.
"Even if it is a staff member, this is not OK. Staff members also have to go through security checks to restricted areas," one said.
Another said allowing non- pilots in the cockpit could put passengers at risk.
Commenters on the website Chinanews.com suggested pilots could be distracted by the presence of a beautiful woman in the cockpit.
"Get away from the pretty girl and get away from danger," one wrote.
Ng's files were circulated online before she deleted everything, including the message, from her Weibo page yesterday.
The flight decks of planes have been governed by greater access restrictions since heightened security measures were introduced after September 11.
In 2011, Cathay Pacific sacked a pilot and a flight attendant after photos showed them engaging in a sex act inside the cockpit. Those images emerged a few days before the launch of a planned ad campaign, which would have featured flight attendants, pilots and other employees in informal poses with the slogan, “Meet the team who go the extra mile to make you feel special.”
Additional reporting by Phila Siu