bodyType

customContents

entityId

entityUuid

articlePageQuery

filter

article

articleBaseAdvertisingInfoArticle

articleListArticle

articleSeoArticle

hooksArticleAcknowledgementGateOverlayArticle

hooksTrackPageViewArticle

hooksContentInterestArticle

articleLinkingDataContent

hooksAmpRedirectArticle

articleSchemaContent

liveArticle

advertZone

sentiment

contentLock

topics

types

sections

paywallTypes

createdDate

publishedDate

urlAlias

moreOnThisArticles

sponsorType

commentCount

authorLocations

authors

corrections

displaySlideShow

multimediaEmbed

printHeadline

seriesContainer

articleSpeeches

socialHeadline

headline

images

flag

firstTopic

glossary

flattenTypeIds

image

relatedLinks

relatedNewsletters

__typename

sponsor

pdfFiles

seriesReverseOrder

series

disableOffPlatformContent

published

updatedDate

summary

subHeadline

body

keywords

readingTime

customTimezone

liveContents

Ben Westcott

On Thursday night, an engine problem forced a Cathay Pacific A330 to make an emergency landing in Bali, Indonesia.
Passengers heard what they described as a "loud bang" and the cabin lights went out. Some passengers on board said they saw sparks and flames coming from the engine, although a spokeswoman for Cathay Pacific denied this.
READ MORE: 'We heard a loud bang and the plane started to shake': Drama as engine fire breaks out on Hong Kong-bound Cathay Pacific flight 
All 251 passengers on the Perth-to-Hong Kong flight were left shaken but uninjured.
An airline spokeswoman reiterated that safety was Cathay's number one priority and that an investigation into the incident was underway.
Every year Cathay Pacific carries more than 15 million passengers to destinations around the globe, covering tens of millions of kilometres doing so.
It is one of the world's safest airlines.
In recent times the airline has had its share of in-flight frights:
Cathay Pacific Flight 884 - July 29, 2015
A homemade video from on board the plane captured the concern in passengers’ eyes as a Cathay Pacific flight was forced to make an emergency landing in Alaska after smoke was detected in the cabin.
The airline said a problem with a cooling fan had led to the issue.
READ MORE: 'Something's not right on this flight': Passenger's video captures panic as smoke forces Cathay plane to make emergency landing
Cathay Pacific Flight 748 - March 10, 2014
This flight from South Africa to Hong Kong was forced to make an emergency landing after birds were sucked into the engine shortly after take-off and damaging it.
All 234 people on board were unharmed and the plane landed safely again in Johannesburg.
Cathay Pacific Flight 882 - November 19, 2012
An afternoon flight from Hong Kong to Los Angeles made an unexpected emergency landing in Anchorage, Alaska, after the cabin suddenly lost pressure.
Cathay Pacific said the error was due to a valve malfunction and led to all 288 passengers and 18 crew being forced to use oxygen masks.
Everyone on the flight was given free accommodation and food, courtesy of the airline.
Cathay Pacific Flight 715 - May 16, 2011
“Will we die?” one passenger asked another on this flight from Singapore to Jakarta after an engine burst into flame mid-flight.
The A330 had to make an emergency return to Singapore after there were two sharp bangs about 20 minutes after take-off accompanied by a smell of smoke.
Cathay Pacific Flight 780 - April 13, 2010
In one of the most infamous near-misses in Hong Kong’s aviation history, two pilots managed to land their plane at twice normal speed when both their engines failed mid-flight.
Flying from Indonesia to Hong Kong with 309 passengers and 13 crew on board, the plane had begun its descent into Chek Lap Kok Airport when both engines stalled due to tainted petrol.
In total 57 people were injured but no one died – for their heroism, both pilots were awarded the Polaris Award by the International Federation of Air Line Pilots’ Associations.



From ice hockey to sevens, here’s some of what lies ahead for Hong Kong sport in 2026

China’s C919 maker teams up with China Eastern with a bigger variant on the cards: sources

Swire Pacific’s Guy Bradley to take reins at Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific, Swire Coca-Cola

Hong Kong’s Cathay Pacific investigates wrong taxiway use at Manila airport

Cathay Pacific

Close calls: Five other times Cathay Pacific flights went wrong mid-air and landed safely

Passengers disembarking in Singapore on May 16, 2011, after one of the plane's engines burst into flames mid-flight. Photo: Reuters

The pilots who safely landed CX 780 were awarded for their heroism. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A video screen grab shows passengers in their life jackets as the plane is about to fly from the Aleutian Islands to Anchorage in the July 29 incident. Photo: SCMP Picture

The Cathay Pacific flight that landed in Bali on Thursday night. Photo: SCMP Pictures

‘We heard a loud bang and the plane started to shake’: Most passengers still in Bali after Cathay Pacific scare

The Airbus A330 was carrying 254 passengers from Perth. Photo: EPA

The aircraft was an Airbus A330 going from Perth to Hong Kong. Photo: AFP

A passenger on the flight posted a Facebook status noting "there were flames and sparks flying out of the motor".

Passenger Joel Sirna's Facebook post. 

A flight radar track shows the plane's trajectory and steep descent. Photo: SCMP Pictures

A passenger on the flight posted a Facebook status noting "there were flames and sparks flying out of the motor". Photo: SCMP Pictures

'Something's not right on this flight': Passenger's video captures panic as smoke forces Cathay plane to make emergency landing

Passenger Ethan Williams took this photo before the jet flew to Anchorage. Photo: Ethan Williams

Passengers wait to fly to Anchorage to change planes for Los Angeles. Photo: Ethan Williams

This relief jet was sent by Cathay to take the passengers to Los Angeles. Photo: Bruce Kirch

Passengers wait in a holding area. Photo: Bruce Kirch 

A view over the wing before the plane took off from the Shemya US military base. Photo: Ethan Williams

News

Hong Kong

Health & Environment