10-hour delay as Hong Kong-bound Cathay plane among three international flights hit with bomb threats

A Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific flight from New Delhi was late for its scheduled arrival for over 10 hours due to a bomb threat that was later found to be a hoax.

The CX694 flight with 159 passengers departed from Delhi International Airport at 3.34am local time (around 11.43pm Hong Kong time) yesterday but was later asked to make a return to the airport by local authorities, a Cathay spokeswoman said.

Local media reported that authorities received bomb threats involving three international flights, including Cathay’s flight, a Hong Kong-bound Jet Airways flight and a Zurich-bound Swissair flight.

“CX694 landed back uneventfully and was parked at a remote bay,” said the spokeswoman. “A thorough check of passengers, baggage and the aircraft was conducted and the aircraft was cleared for take off.”

She did not disclose when the plane took off again but the flight, which was scheduled to arrive at Hong Kong International Airport at 9.25am, eventually arrived at 7.47pm, over 10 hours late.

The spokeswoman said the flight had stopped in Bangkok to replace its crew due to expiry of crew operating hours. She said the company had not received any complaint from passengers.