Incident (A330) at HKG International Airport

[JohnK]

Happened earlier this aftenoon and so far I have only found reference of it on CX website.

Cathay Pacific Statement on Incident at Hong Kong International Airport

13 April 2010 ​

Cathay Pacific today confirmed that our flight CX780 from Surabaya made an emergency landing at Hong Kong International Airport at 1343. The aircraft is an A330 with 309 passengers and 13 crew on board.

Cathay Pacific is working closely with the Civil Aviation Department which is investigating the incident.

A Cathay Pacific spokesman said that the left hand engine of the aircraft had shut down as the aircraft made its landing approach at Hong Kong International Airport.

The other engine was functioning.

The spokesman said: "Cathay Pacific flight crew are all trained on a regular basis to handle such situations."

This spokesman also said that during landing, all four tyres on the left hand side of the aircraft had deflated while two of the four on the right hand side also deflated.

He said that the tyres were designed to deflate during such high energy braking to avoid them bursting. Such landings were usually accompanied by smoke or dust as the tyres become warm and deflate.

As a precaution, the passengers and crew were deplaned through the aircraft's evacuation slides.

Eight passengers suffered injuries and were taken to hospitals accompanied by Cathay Pacific airport staff.

The aircraft entered into service with Cathay Pacific in 1998 and it had been through all the checks and servicing procedure recommended by its manufacturer, Airbus.

The spokesman added that all the passengers who had not required hospital treatment had been released from the holding area of the airport, assisted and supported by Cathay Pacific staff. Cathay Pacific staff were also present at Princess Margaret Hospital and Yan Chai Hospital to support the injured passengers and their friends and relatives.

We are not in a position to release any further details at this stage. We will release information as and when it is available.

 

[samh004]

Had a look myself, hadn’t heard anything either.

8 injured:

Injuries after Cathay A330 engine shuts down on approach

8 injured in emergency landing

Eight injured in Airbus emergency landing in Hong Kong - Summary | Earth Times News

5 injured:

5 Injured As Hong Kong Airliner Makes Emergency Landing

 

[Flying Fox]

Good work by the crew to get the aircraft down safely.

 

[markis10]

I believe this was actually a full engine failure, that is the second one failed (shut down by crew as it was not responding to throttle input with 70% thrust) on short final and as a result they had no reverse thrust to assist the breaks, used RAT and parking brake, hence the bunch of very flat tyres, hoping to hear more from a friend who flys for CX. First engine was shut down for same reason, no response, well done to the crew regardless.

 

[oz_mark]

I believe this was actually a full engine failure, that is the second one failed (shuit down by crew as it was not responding to throttle input with 70% thrust) on short final and as a result they had no reverse thrust to assist the breaks, used RAT and parking brake, hence the bunch of very flat tyres, hoping to hear more from a friend who flys for CX.

I was wondering about that - the stories seemed a bit incosistent on whether one or both engines had issues.

 

[straitman]

I believe this was actually a full engine failure, that is the second one failed (shut down by crew as it was not responding to throttle input with 70% thrust) on short final and as a result they had no reverse thrust to assist the breaks, used RAT and parking brake, hence the bunch of very flat tyres, hoping to hear more from a friend who flys for CX. First engine was shut down for same reason, no response, well done to the crew regardless.

This sounds not unlike a certain BA B777 at Heathrow a while back. A much better outcome for the airframe though :!:

 

[markis10]

No news now has pictures and more info, both pilots were Aussie, one HK based the other Aus based.

 

[Flying Fox]

Aussie pilots 'heroes' for averting disaster

 

[mannej]

The Aircraft in Question seems to be B-HLL for any of those interested with RR Trent 700's

 

[Mal]

This sounds not unlike a certain BA B777 at Heathrow a while back. A much better outcome for the airframe though :!:

Seems that way. From that NineMSN article:

The right engine also cut out and pilots were faced with the prospect that the jet may not make it to the runway and instead plunge into the sea, the Morning Post reported.

"One engine was shut down completely and the other was going on and off ... they effectively landed the plane on half an engine," the colleague said.

A job well done guys!

 

[Blackadder]

Ch 7 reporting possible fuel contamination from the previous stop.

 

[straitman]

Did anyone see the pilots names published and if so could you post them here :?:

 

[milehighclub]

Amazed at how many people took hand luggage - a BIG no no in any evacuation

 

[wtolmie]

well done to the pilots.. expect nothing less from them..

I havent heard of any CX issues for ages.. Its usually antas plastered all over the media..

 

[oz_mark]

This sounds not unlike a certain BA B777 at Heathrow a while back. A much better outcome for the airframe though :!:

Superficially, at least. My be different when they dig into it.

 

[markis10]

Superficially, at least. My be different when they dig into it.

I am not sure, no cold transit and there are reports the No 1 failed not long after departure, I doubt that part given the plethora of alternates available enroute.

 

[kamchatsky]

Welldone to the pilots! Glad to hear most are OK. Hopefully the 8 injured will recover well.

 

[gilby08]

Really these pilots are hero's???? Totally different spin if it was a QF incident...

 

[samh004]

Amazed at how many people took hand luggage - a BIG no no in any evacuation

It always happens.

 

[NM]

Amazed at how many people took hand luggage - a BIG no no in any evacuation

Indeed such action shows me they have no respect for fellow passengers. I can't imaging how someone can thing their carry-on item is more important than someone else's life. Its just contemptible in my view.

On the other hand, I wonder what circumstance triggered the need for an emergency evacuation in this particular incident? Notwithstanding the seriousness of the incident and the potential for catastrophic results, once on the ground it would seem the risk to the aircraft and its occupants was minimal. Yes, several tyres deflated, but that is what they are designed to do when overheating due to heavy breaking.

I know that at this early stage we know very few details, and people had to make decisions with little information or opportunity to evaluate in hindsight. But another recently publicised incident involving an A380 blowing some tyres resulting in lots of sparks, did not result in an emergency evacuation. So I wonder what was the trigger that caused the emergency evacuation verses waiting for stairs and a less urgent disembarkation process?? Note this is a genuine point of interest and not a reflection of either operator involved in the recent incidents.