A Cathay Pacific flight headed for Hong Kong had to make an emergency return to Boston Logan International Airport after only a few minutes in the air, following a report of smoke in the cabin. The flight, number CX811, left Boston late Saturday evening. It circled over Massachusetts Bay and landed safely at the airport without any reported injuries to passengers and crew.
Airline officials cannot determine why there is smoke emanating from it. The probable causes are diverse, such as electrical failure, or possibly with the air conditioner. In light of the development, the airline has reassured the passengers that their safety comes first, as they are running comprehensive checks and identification of the issue with maintenance teams.
Emergency vehicles were on standby as the aircraft made its return to Logan Airport, said witnesses. The cabin crew has been praised by passengers for the calm and professional way they handled the brief ordeal. “They kept us informed and made sure we felt safe throughout,” said one passenger.
Cathay Pacific apologizes for the inconvenience to passengers and is finding alternative flights that do not disrupt this schedule. Such an incident shows how effective the safety procedures put in place to protect passengers in cases where an emergency occurs.
