Regulator outlines review after Cathay flight intercepted by Nato jets
Civil Aviation Department says preliminary information indicates flight adhered to its authorised routing throughout journey
Hong Kong’s aviation regulator has ordered Cathay Pacific Airways to conduct a comprehensive review of an incident involving a London-bound passenger flight that was intercepted by Nato fighter jets after temporarily losing contact with air traffic controllers over Romanian airspace last week.
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) expressed serious concern for the second consecutive day on Thursday over the incident and set out the parameters of the review for Cathay.
It said preliminary information indicated that the flight adhered to its authorised routing throughout the journey. The flight later arrived at its destination safely, it added.
The department instructed Cathay to “follow up seriously” and submit the investigation report within a week over the July 4 incident.
“CAD has instructed [Cathay] to conduct a comprehensive review of the incident, including the operational condition of the aircraft, setting of communication equipment and communication with local air traffic control unit,” it said.