Flight emergency at HK airport - CX flight from BNE 23/05/2026

[tomlee1986]

This is from South China Morning Post this morning, 10 passengers and crew were injured on CX 156 - A359 B-LRV arriving at 0634 due to severe turbulence during the flight. This proves the passengers should keep their seatbelts fastened during the flight even at night - as this was an overnight departure from BNE!

"Ten passengers and crew members were injured when a Cathay Pacific Airways flight from Brisbane to Hong Kong encountered turbulence early on Saturday morning, with one traveller describing the terrifying experience as similar to “free-falling from a drop tower”."

Screams as 10 hurt in ‘drop tower’ turbulence on Cathay flight from Brisbane

Passenger describes experience as similar to ‘free-falling from a drop tower’, with severe altitude drop just before meals served.

www.scmp.com

CC @Melburnian1

 

[Quickstatus]

Turbulence predicting app

 

[Quickstatus]

The altitude temporarily reduced about 1200ft at 2053UTC over the phillipines.
Not sure if this was the time ofthe incident
And to be clear changes in altitude do not cause pasengers to leavetheir seats. That would be due to the sudden change in vertical acceleration which is different to change in altitude.



And change in lateral position - possibly pilots avoiding some weather.

 

[tomlee1986]

The altitude temporarily reduced about 1200ft at 2053UTC over the phillipines.

View attachment 507859

Thanks for the extra info - and that is also near the time for the breakfast service just prior to landing in HKG...

 

[Quickstatus]

Some photos

 

[Quickstatus]

Are these turbulence predicting apps worth considering?

 

[tomlee1986]

Are these turbulence predicting apps worth considering?

There is still the chance of clear air turbulence

 

[Quickstatus]

Sorry that was supposed to be a question in the Ask the Pilot.