A Singapore Airlines (SIA) flight from Hong Kong to Singapore on 10 September was delayed for about three hours due to a Singaporean passenger verbally abusing cabin crew before take-off. The incident, which occurred at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), was allegedly triggered by the passenger’s request for alcoholic beverages. Police were called, and the 71-year-old man was escorted off the plane.
Delayed for more than 3 hours
According to data from flightradar24.com, the flight was initially scheduled to take off at 8:25 pm but only departed at 11:38 pm. The plane was seen turning back on the tarmac. A reader onboard SQ897 mentioned that the airline initially delayed the departure to 9:40 pm to accommodate passengers from a separate flight, SQ893, which had been cancelled earlier due to technical issues after being stuck on the tarmac for over four hours. Affected passengers were transferred to other flights.
Passenger had altercation with staff over ‘alcohol request’
The flight SQ897 faced further delays when the captain announced an abusive passenger aboard while the plane was taxiing to the runway at about 10:12 pm. A video shared by a reader showed a man in a black shirt raising his voice and glaring at an SIA stewardess. The reader mentioned that the passenger had been on the delayed flight SQ893 and was already unhappy. The altercation reportedly began when the man asked for alcohol as a pre-boarding drink.
Deplaned
Approximately 10 minutes after the captain’s announcement, the plane returned to the gate, and the man, along with a younger companion, was escorted off with his luggage. The reader noted that the man continued to scold the crew, particularly targeting a chief stewardess. An airport bus and a police vehicle were present, and SIA staff were seen conversing with police before returning to the aircraft.
No arrests were made: Hong Kong police
Hong Kong police confirmed to local media outlet HK01 that the case was recorded as a “request for police assistance.” The passenger, identified as a 71-year-old Singaporean man surnamed Tan, was not arrested as preliminary investigations showed no criminal elements were involved.
Passenger was verbally abusive to cabin crew: SIA
In response to enquiries, an SIA spokesperson confirmed that the passenger was behaving unruly and verbally abusing the cabin crew. “Our pilots assessed the situation and decided to offload the passenger to ensure the safety of the other passengers and the operating crew,” the spokesperson said. The passenger was handed over to local authorities at HKIA. The spokesperson apologised to all customers for the inconvenience but stressed that the safety of SIA customers and staff is their top priority. “SIA believes that all our employees have a right to a safe and respectful workplace environment and does not stand for abusive behaviour towards our staff.”
Previous incidents and future implications
This incident follows a series of delays and cancellations affecting flights in the region. On 3 September, Cathay Pacific cancelled multiple flights, causing significant delays for passengers. The recent events highlight the ongoing challenges airlines face in maintaining schedules and ensuring passenger and crew safety. Future measures may include stricter enforcement of conduct policies and enhanced support for crew dealing with unruly passengers.
