Hong Kong Airlines flight emergency slide deploys after landing at Osaka Kansai Airport

Hong Kong Airlines confirmed an emergency evacuation slide deployed on flight HX612 from Hong Kong to Osaka Kansai Airport on Sunday after landing, potentially caused by accidental activation of the emergency door handle.

The incident occurred around 7:15 pm local time during disembarkation when the right-side emergency door opened and deployed the slide. Preliminary investigation suggests someone accidentally triggered the emergency door handle. No injuries were reported.

According to Xiaohongshu posts from fellow passengers, one traveler described hearing something open shortly after landing with "a cool breeze coming in" before discovering the emergency door had been opened by a passenger.

The deployment affected return flight HX613, causing delays and requiring approximately 70 passengers to be rebooked on tomorrow's flight HX615. Affected passengers will receive 20,000 yuan (HK$1,050) in compensation.

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Hong Airlines stated crew members immediately notified Kansai Airport and conducted safety checks confirming the aircraft could continue operations. However, due to the unusable escape slide, safety procedures required limiting use of that emergency exit area for the return flight.

The airline apologized for the inconvenience and is arranging hotel accommodations and local assistance for affected passengers. The company emphasized safety as its top priority and has reported the incident to relevant authorities while cooperating fully with investigations.

This incident follows a similar case in July 2024 when a passenger on a China Airlines flight mistakenly opened an emergency door, thinking it was a toilet, resulting in a canceled flight and court-ordered compensation of approximately 77,000 yuan(HK$84,000) .