Hong Kong’s Cathay ordered to investigate after junior pilot fails alcohol test

Hong Kong’s civil aviation authority has told Cathay Pacific Airways to investigate and submit a report on a junior pilot who failed an alcohol breath test just before he was scheduled to fly to the city from Sydney, which caused a lengthy delay to the flight. The Civil Aviation Department on Thursday said aviation safety was of the utmost importance and that it was very concerned about the incident. The department emphasised that flight crew members must not be affected by psychoactive substances to a degree that could affect their capacity to act or could jeopardise the safety of the aircraft. Hong Kong flag carrier Cathay Pacific told the Post on Thursday morning it was investigating the second officer on flight 110, who failed the test in Sydney on Tuesday. The airline emphasised safety was its “overriding priority” and it had a zero tolerance for staff who did not comply with alcohol rules. “Cathay Pacific is aware of the reports and we are maintaining close communication with the relevant authorities,” a Cathay spokesman told the Post. “The second officer in question has been suspended from flying duties with immediate effect, pending a full investigation. “Safety is our overriding priority and we have a zero-tolerance approach to non-compliance with our alcohol and other drugs (AOD) policy, which sets out the company’s standards and guidelines on handling any problematic use of alcohol or other drugs.”<br/>