Cathay junior pilot suspended for failing alcohol test, causes 27-hour delay from Sydney

A Cathay Pacific flight from Sydney to Hong Kong was unable to depart for up to 27 hours after a junior pilot was suspended by the airline for allegedly failing a pre-departure alcohol breath test.

Flight CX110 had been scheduled to depart for Hong Kong from Sydney at 7.35 am local time on Wednesday, but was delayed until 10.51 am the next day as it was left without sufficient flight crew after the second officer failed to adhere to Cathay Pacific’s alcohol and other drugs policy, according to the Hong Kong airline.

The airline on Thursday confirmed the news, saying it was “aware of the reports and we are maintaining close communication with the relevant authorities”.

“The Second Officer in question has been suspended from flying duties with immediate effect pending a full investigation,” the airline said, adding that safety is its overriding priority and the airline has a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with its alcohol and other drugs policy.

Cathay Pacific said it conducts random alcohol and drug tests on its pilots in Hong Kong, and that further random testing is conducted by authorities at foreign airports.

The airline’s limit for pilots is 0.02 percent blood alcohol content.

It is understood that a replacement secondment officer has been deployed to Sydney to join the delayed flight.

“We sincerely apologize for any inconvenience caused,” the airline wrote in a statement.