A senior Cathay Pacific first officer is due to appear in Eastern Court this morning charged with murder after a man died in a seaside brawl near Shek O at the weekend. David Chan, 33, who flies Airbus A340 planes for the Hong Kong airline, was being held in custody last night with seven other suspects charged with murdering 36-year-old Leung Chi-wing at Big Wave Bay last Saturday. Chan, who joined Cathay Pacific in December 1998 and lives in Tung Chung, phoned his employers to say he was 'unfit for duty' following his arrest. The married pilot first appeared in court on Tuesday accused of murder, along with TVB director Ip Chun-fai, 34, director Sody Ko King-tat, 48, clerk Wong Sze-ho, 34, merchant Nelson Chow Kai-keung, 36, electrician Ngan Sun-chi, 48, and Chu Siu-keung, 32. No pleas were taken and the men were remanded in custody until this morning pending further inquiries and an identification parade. Later on Tuesday, an eighth suspect - a 45-year-old man surnamed Ngan - surrendered to police and was arrested. Last night he was charged with one count of murder and will appear in Eastern Court today. A spokeswoman for Cathay Pacific said yesterday: 'We can confirm that David Chan is a first officer on our Airbus fleet. 'He has been with Cathay for 10 years. He has informed the company that he is unfit for duty.' An airline insider said Chan had not been removed from flying duties, although it was likely the company would suspend him on full pay pending the outcome of the court proceedings. 'He is presumed innocent until proved otherwise,' the source said. 'As far as the airline is concerned, he has reported himself unfit for duty. They will obviously monitor the situation and see how it develops.' Chan is a member of the Aircrew Officers Association, which extends legal assistance to member pilots in certain circumstances. It is not known whether Chan has approached the association for help. 'I am aware of the case, but it is not something I am able to comment on at this stage,' John Findlay, the association's general secretary, said.
