Cathay Pacific accused of leaving boy unattended, father seeks HK$1.94 million in damages
The 12-year-old boy, travelling alone, was allegedly picked up by a stranger despite requesting unaccompanied minor’s assistance from the airline
An Indian businessman is suing Cathay Pacific for HK$1.94 million after the airline allegedly failed to attend to his son, who was picked up by a stranger while flying alone to India last October, despite his request for unaccompanied minor assistance.
According to a High Court writ, Raja Ram Poosaala, 12, was travelling alone from Hong Kong to visit his grandmother in Telangana on October 31 last year. His uncle, due to collect him from Rajiv Gandhi International Airport in Hyderabad, could not find him at the arrivals hall.
His uncle then received a phone call from an unknown caller at the airport, who said he had the boy and promptly hung up.
Two hours after landing the boy emerged, accompanied by a man who left as soon as he saw the uncle. Frightened, the boy told his uncle the man had asked him to follow him upon landing, and that staff did not provide the “Meet and Assist” service as requested.
The boy’s father, Ram Prasad Poosaala, accused the airline of extreme “deficiency of service and gross negligence”.