Cathay flight to Hong Kong was abandoned just minutes before takeoff after pilot found with knives
Travellers forced to stay in seats for more than two hours after flight was cancelled
A fully-loaded Cathay Pacific flight from London Heathrow to Hong Kong was aborted just minutes before it was due to take off after a pilot was found to have knives in his hand luggage, a passenger on the plane has revealed.
Travellers were forced to wait in their seats for more than two hours before they were finally told the flight was cancelled, said Clare Furness, who was returning to the city following a fortnight in the UK.
"We all got on board and they said we would be taxiing in nine minutes. Then we were left waiting on the tarmac for more than two hours. They didn't get us off the flight until gone midnight, then they said 'this flight is cancelled'.
"They just told us there were crew issues. The captain said 'apologies for everything that has happened'. He said they tried to get another pilot but they couldn't get there on time."
The passengers were herded into a hotel where they checked in and their flight was rescheduled for 2.30pm on Sunday.
The knives were discovered when the pilot of flight 254 went through security checks before he got on the plane.