On 24th June 2023, eleven people on board a Cathay Pacific Boeing 777 were injured during an evacuation at Hong Kong Airport. The Boeing 777 had rejected the takeoff due to a technical issue.
The Boeing 777-300ER with registration B-KPQ was scheduled to depart as flight CX880 from Hong Kong to Los Angeles. However, while it was accelerating for takeoff on runway 07R, the crew aborted the takeoff at around 154 knots and returned to the gate. The crew reportedly noticed something unusual in the instrument.
However, once the engineers went in to inspect the aircraft, an explosion was heard, most probably from the tires. Multiple tires of one set of tail pulleys of the aircraft were deformed, showing a deflated and sunken state.
Following the explosion and noticing the red-hot brakes, the crew decided to evacuate the aircraft as a precaution, thinking a fire might break out.
According to Cathay Pacific, 17 crew members and 293 passengers were on board the aircraft. After the aircraft returned to the gate a precautionary passenger evacuation was initiated by the crew, and passengers exited the aircraft using five-door escape slides.
Eleven passengers were injured during the evacuation and were taken to a nearby hospital. Nine of them were discharged after being treated whereas, two of them remained in the hospital overnight. The majority of the affected passengers have already departed for Los Angeles on another flight.
“Cathay Pacific’s flight CX880 departed from Hong Kong to Los Angeles at 10:12 this morning, carrying 283 passengers. Alternate arrangements have also been made for those with connecting flights to their destinations.”
Cathay Pacific Spokerperson
“Nine of the eleven passengers who received treatment at hospitals have been discharged. Our colleagues will continue to provide support to the two hospitalized passengers and their families. We sincerely apologize for the disruption to our customers’ journeys,” the spokesperson continued.
Images via HK01
No “crew” took the decision to abort the take off, it was the PIC, “cockpit crew” at most. It’s not a team work, it has a very defined decision maker which is not “the crew”.
Irrespectively of the rights and wrongs of an evacuation, why on earth was there someone taking a video? People are ridiculous.
Hot brakes normally don’t cause fires unless grease around the axles get hot enough to ignite. Dry powder fire extinguisher is the best choice although a fire truck spraying masses of foam will reduce the fire hazard. I have seen a few hot brakes but luckily no fire. Can’t understand why the evacuation took place bit of an overacting. Different story if the aircraft had a significant fire risk like a massive fuel leak.
I’m not sure why the captain decided to evacuate, why not just have the fire truck called out, the ramp controller would also be able to advise if the breaks were on fire.
I think a better assessment should have been done, no need to rush. ppl always get injured or even killed during evacuations.
But maybe he had his reasons, can’t really sit here and judge.