An elderly man on a Cathay Pacific flight was handcuffed and removed from the cabin upon landing in San Francisco on Wednesday, with the Hong Kong airline banning the man from future flights.
A video clip lasting approximately 33 seconds has been circulating online lately, capturing the moment an elderly man was handcuffed and escorted off a Cathay Pacific flight by U.S. Customs and Border Protection officers.
The Cantonese-speaking man can be heard yelling in the video, protesting loudly.
“What law have I broken? If I have broken the law, then I should be punished by the law, but I haven’t done anything wrong!” He also shouted that he is now in his 80s.
According to information online, the man was said to have requested to open the aircraft door in flight. With his request denied, the man allegedly engaged in disruptive behavior, leading to his removal by law enforcement upon landing in San Francisco.
In a response to media inquiries, Cathay Pacific confirmed that the incident occurred on flight CX872, which departed from Hong Kong on October 8.
The airline said the passenger’s actions were deemed disruptive and posed a risk to flight safety. Crew members issued both verbal and written warnings before notifying local authorities upon arrival. The airline also noted there were no injuries reported among crew members or passengers.
Cathay Pacific reiterated that all decisions made were primarily focused on ensuring the safety of both passengers and crew. Due to the man’s actions, the airline said it had notified the passenger that he is now banned from flying with the airline.
