Cathay Pacific flight from Japan delayed due to woman boarding without passport

An aircraft of the Hong Kong carrier Cathay Pacific. Photo from Cathay Pacific's Instagram

The incident occurred on Dec. 28, 2023 as the flight’s cabin crew noticed a woman frequently changing seats before takeoff, as reported by Hong Kong newspaper The Standard. She was unable to present her passport and boarding pass upon request by the crew, prompting them to seek police assistance.

Japanese police quickly addressed the situation by removing the woman from the plane and detaining her for further inquiries. All passengers were also required to disembark for a thorough security check.

This additional security measure caused the flight to arrive in Hong Kong over an hour later than its scheduled time, according to a report by Hong Kong news site Dimsum Daily.

Cathay Pacific has issued a statement in response to this event, apologizing for the inconvenience caused to its passengers and emphasizing that the safety of its passengers and crew is always its top priority.