HK Express flight in crisis landing

James Lee

An HK Express flight carrying 139 passengers to Fukuoka, Japan, had to turn back and make an emergency landing at the Hong Kong International Airport due to a loss of cabin pressure yesterday.

Flight UO600 took off from the airport at 7.40am, made a U-turn and landed safely at 9.32am, with no injuries reported among passengers.

It is understood the captain requested authorities to stand by for an emergency. Many engines of the Fire Services Department and ambulances were mobilized.

A spokesman for the budget carrier confirmed the flight returned and landed at the Chek Lap Kok airport after reports of abnormal cabin pressure.

"A total of 139 passengers and seven crew were on board. All have left the aircraft safely through normal disembarkation," the spokesman said.

A replacement aircraft had been arranged to operate another service for affected passengers to Fukuoka with a new operating crew.

Flight tracker data showed that the aircraft descended from more than 35,000 feet above the South China Sea to only about 8,000 feet before falling off the radar 40 minutes after takeoff.

The plane sent an emergency "squawk" code to the nearest air traffic control station in Taipei, and the flight reappeared on the tracker soon after, indicating that it was headed back to Hong Kong for landing.

The replacement flight, UO600 - the same flight number as yesterday morning's flight - left Hong Kong at 11.24am and landed in Fukuoka.

The carrier said it will conduct an investigation into the incident.

"HK Express has immediately reported the incident to the authorities, and will conduct an investigation into the cause of the incident. A detailed investigation report will be submitted to the authorities," the spokesman said.

cjames.lee@singtaonewscorp.com