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It could be disinformation, but I've read that some Cathay pilots and cabin crew were reprimanded for participating in the protests. Also, I don't necessarily

It could be disinformation, but I've read that some Cathay pilots and cabin crew were reprimanded for participating in the protests. Also, I don't necessarily mean a terrorist incident. Any kerfuffle at 35,000ft would be enough grounds to turn an airplane around and land it at the nearest runway as per standard safety practices. With HK-mainland tensions at an all time high, I don't think this can be completely ruled out.

alteria 7y ago
What kind of incident are you imagining happening on a plane, and is participation in the protest a reliable indicator for the likelihood of it?
- llIIlIlIllIIlIl 7y ago
  Imagine knowing that your people are fighting for freedom from CPC rule and mainlanders flooding into HK, taking your jobs and housing and driving up prices for essential goods. Then you get a group of obnoxious and oblivious mainlanders heading to HK on a luxury spending holiday demanding this and that from the flight hostesses. Now imagine being an HK Cathay cabin crew member making not so great pay and living in the most expensive city in the world by far. This could be a tinder box for incidents like verbal assaults, jostling and shoving and if enough passengers get involved, it could transform into a real flight risk. > is participation in the protest a reliable indicator for the likelihood of it Humans are capable of many things right or wrong when they are desperate to get their message across. Doubly true when they believe their fight is for justice.
  - eximius 7y ago
    You seem to be asking about an unlikely hypothetical for the sole purpose of legitimizing the actions taken, making the risk seem plausible.
    - llIIlIlIllIIlIl 7y ago
      Do you think the above scenario is completely implausible? If so, why? Please don't make assumptions about my motives.
      - eximius 7y ago
        Whether or not it is your intention, all you're doing is sowing doubt and suspicion. You are NOT creating meaningful discourse.
theseadroid 7y ago
I was a bit surprised the economist used the word absurdly actually. There are several incidents happened before China's aviation authority made the demand: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/08/21/cathay-pacific-pilot-went-viral-telling-hongkongers-add-oil-no-longer-airline/ https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/08/21/cathay-pacific-pilot-w... This pilots announcement happened before July 26.
- supertiger 7y ago
  exactly, "absurdly", what journalism
- raquo 7y ago
  The pilot talking about protestors at the airport he's landing, and supporting them did not imperil the safety of passengers. Claiming that is indeed absurd.
  - theseadroid 7y ago
    >did not imperil the safety of passengers. This should be a claim reserved to the experts. If everyone can make those kind of claims why we need FAA? China's aviation authority's claim might not be reasonable, but I'm in no position to judge. And I don't think the Economist can judge either. It not only judged, but grossed over the few incidents with just one word, absurdly. Now you are a pilot yourself, I'm sure you have encountered many aviation rules that seem redundant or even borderline unreasonable. But we would assume there are reasons behind them right? Again not saying China's aviation authority's demand is reasonable. Sometimes even FAA fucked up (737-max). But when it comes to aviation, non expert opinions are really irrelevant.
    - raquo 7y ago
      Speaking over the intercom about protestors is not a safety issue. You don't need the obviously politically motivated CCP "experts" to judge that. This has nothing to do with aviation safety and everything to do with (lack of) freedom of speech. You have some anonymous user in this thread fantasizing about crazy scenarios that didn't happen, and you're propping them up with your own judgement, and then you're telling me to hold my judgement and trust the alleged "experts" that happen to agree with you. No thanks, I'll take as much freedom in judgement as you afforded yourself.

alteria 7y ago

What kind of incident are you imagining happening on a plane, and is participation in the protest a reliable indicator for the likelihood of it?

llIIlIlIllIIlIl 7y ago
Imagine knowing that your people are fighting for freedom from CPC rule and mainlanders flooding into HK, taking your jobs and housing and driving up prices for essential goods. Then you get a group of obnoxious and oblivious mainlanders heading to HK on a luxury spending holiday demanding this and that from the flight hostesses. Now imagine being an HK Cathay cabin crew member making not so great pay and living in the most expensive city in the world by far. This could be a tinder box for incidents like verbal assaults, jostling and shoving and if enough passengers get involved, it could transform into a real flight risk. > is participation in the protest a reliable indicator for the likelihood of it Humans are capable of many things right or wrong when they are desperate to get their message across. Doubly true when they believe their fight is for justice.
- eximius 7y ago
  You seem to be asking about an unlikely hypothetical for the sole purpose of legitimizing the actions taken, making the risk seem plausible.
  - llIIlIlIllIIlIl 7y ago
    Do you think the above scenario is completely implausible? If so, why? Please don't make assumptions about my motives.
    - eximius 7y ago
      Whether or not it is your intention, all you're doing is sowing doubt and suspicion. You are NOT creating meaningful discourse.

theseadroid 7y ago

I was a bit surprised the economist used the word absurdly actually. There are several incidents happened before China's aviation authority made the demand: https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/08/21/cathay-pacific-pilot-went-viral-telling-hongkongers-add-oil-no-longer-airline/ https://www.hongkongfp.com/2019/08/21/cathay-pacific-pilot-w... This pilots announcement happened before July 26.

supertiger 7y ago
exactly, "absurdly", what journalism
raquo 7y ago
The pilot talking about protestors at the airport he's landing, and supporting them did not imperil the safety of passengers. Claiming that is indeed absurd.
- theseadroid 7y ago
  >did not imperil the safety of passengers. This should be a claim reserved to the experts. If everyone can make those kind of claims why we need FAA? China's aviation authority's claim might not be reasonable, but I'm in no position to judge. And I don't think the Economist can judge either. It not only judged, but grossed over the few incidents with just one word, absurdly. Now you are a pilot yourself, I'm sure you have encountered many aviation rules that seem redundant or even borderline unreasonable. But we would assume there are reasons behind them right? Again not saying China's aviation authority's demand is reasonable. Sometimes even FAA fucked up (737-max). But when it comes to aviation, non expert opinions are really irrelevant.
  - raquo 7y ago
    Speaking over the intercom about protestors is not a safety issue. You don't need the obviously politically motivated CCP "experts" to judge that. This has nothing to do with aviation safety and everything to do with (lack of) freedom of speech. You have some anonymous user in this thread fantasizing about crazy scenarios that didn't happen, and you're propping them up with your own judgement, and then you're telling me to hold my judgement and trust the alleged "experts" that happen to agree with you. No thanks, I'll take as much freedom in judgement as you afforded yourself.