A Cathay Pacific flight from Nepal to Hong Kong faced a severe food poisoning outbreak, leaving dozens ill and requiring urgent medical care upon landing.
A second wave of food poisoning affected Cathay Pacific Flight CX640 from Kathmandu (KTM) to Hong Kong (HKG) on Thursday, January 9, with fifteen passengers reporting symptoms.
Upon landing at 5 a.m., five passengers, including four men and one woman, required immediate medical care and were transferred to North Lantau Hospital.
Investigating the Source of the Outbreak
This incident follows a similar outbreak on Wednesday when ten passengers on the same route exhibited symptoms of food poisoning shortly after consuming in-flight meals. Those affected on Wednesday included six men and four women aged between 21 and 38. Symptoms reportedly began within 10 to 30 minutes of eating.
According to the Centre for Health Protection (CHP), nine of Wednesday’s affected passengers had consumed takeaway sandwiches made of chicken, cucumber, and tomato before boarding the flight. These meals were eaten approximately two hours before departure, leading investigators to suspect them as the source of contamination.
Health authorities are now working to determine whether Thursday’s outbreak is connected to the same pre-flight sandwiches or originated from a different contamination source. In-flight meal samples from both incidents are undergoing laboratory analysis.
Cathay Pacific’s Response
Cathay Pacific issued a statement detailing their immediate response to Wednesday’s outbreak. Cabin crew provided medical assistance to affected passengers and coordinated with Hong Kong medical teams ahead of landing.
The airline has since initiated rigorous aircraft disinfection procedures and launched an internal investigation into the incidents. Representatives commended medical teams for their swift actions and acknowledged the understanding shown by unaffected passengers during the disruption.
Broader Food Safety Challenges in Aviation
This is not an isolated case of food safety issues affecting airlines. In December 2024, over 200 United Airlines employees, including flight attendants, fell ill after consuming holiday meals at Denver International Airport (DEN). Using badge scanning during meal distribution, United Airlines was able to trace the affected individuals efficiently.
Earlier in October, Delta Air Lines suspended hot meal service on over 200 flights departing from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport due to safety concerns at their local catering facility.
In November, an outbreak on international flights arriving at Tokyo’s Narita Airport (NRT) from Guam (GUM) affected dozens of passengers. Japan Airlines (JL) and United Airlines (UA) flights reported cases of illness, primarily among traveling students. Fourteen passengers required hospitalization.
Japan Airlines ruled out inflight meals as the source, indicating the contamination likely occurred in Guam prior to departure.
Ongoing Investigations
With aviation heavily reliant on catering services, these incidents highlight the critical need for stringent food safety protocols. As authorities work
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