Cathay Suspends Pilot Charged With Rioting

Cathay Pacific said on Saturday that it has removed a pilot charged with rioting from flying duties, and said it “must and will comply” with a new set of controversial rules set down by the mainland aviation regulator.

The Civil Aviation Administration on Friday issued a directive saying there’s serious safety risk if Cathay does not suspend the duties of the pilot charged in relation to an anti-extradition protest in Central and Western on July 28.

The directive also said the identities of flight crew working on flights to the mainland or across Chinese airspace would now be vetted, or the flights won't be given the go-ahead.

In response to RTHK’s enquiry, Cathay confirmed that the charged pilot has been removed from flying duties since 30 July, and had actually not been flying since mid-July.

The company said the decision is based on “safety and security” concerns.

Meanwhile, in a message to employees, Cathay Pacific’s CEO Rupert Hogg said the carrier’s operations in the mainland are “key to our business”, and that as with the case of any regulatory authorities in the countries which it flies to or over, the airline is required and committed to following all applicable aviation regulations.