HONG KONG- Passengers aboard Cathay Pacific (CX) flight CX883 endured over 28 hours on a Boeing 777 after departing Los Angeles (LAX), following a diversion and extended ground delay in Taipei (TPE).
Originally bound for Hong Kong (HKG), the flight was diverted mid-air due to extreme weather and forced to wait nearly 11 hours on the tarmac in Taiwan without allowing passengers to deplane.

Cathay Pacific Passengers Stranded
Flight CX883 departed Los Angeles International Airport (LAX) at 12:55 am local time on August 4, scheduled for a 13-hour journey to Hong Kong International Airport (HKG).
Carrying 294 passengers, the aircraft approached Hong Kong late in the flight but aborted its landing due to severe weather linked to a rare “Black” rainstorm warning.
The Hong Kong Observatory had reported more than 13.8 inches of rainfall within hours—its highest August daily total since 1884. With airport operations severely disrupted, Cathay Pacific pilots diverted the flight to Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport (TPE).
The Boeing 777 landed safely at 11:32 pm UTC but was parked at a remote stand, isolated from the terminal, PYOK reported.

Held Onboard for Nearly 11 Hours in Taiwan
Despite being safely on the ground in Taiwan, passengers were not permitted to deplane. Multiple passengers reported they were told the airline cited insurance and regulatory constraints. No official confirmation was provided on the exact legal basis.
Crew and airline representatives waited for clearance to resume the journey to Hong Kong, but passengers were kept onboard throughout the nearly 11-hour layover. Access to food and water was reportedly limited, adding to passenger frustration.
Cathay Pacific had to swap out both pilots and cabin crew to comply with mandatory duty time regulations. The replacement crew was flown in to operate the final leg to Hong Kong.
Flight Timeline Breakdown (UTC)
- Aug 4, 07:30 am – CX883 began taxiing at LAX
- Aug 4, 09:40 pm – Aborted landing approach near HKG
- Aug 4, 11:32 pm – Landed in Taipei (TPE), parked at remote stand
- Aug 5, 09:44 am – Taxied for departure from TPE
- Aug 5, 11:37 am – Arrived at gate in Hong Kong (HKG)
What should’ve been a 13-hour journey stretched into a 28-hour ordeal. The incident raised questions about airline passenger rights during international diversions and extended tarmac delays, especially when local regulations conflict with customer welfare.

Cathay Pacific’s Response and Regulatory Gaps
As of publication, Cathay Pacific has not issued a detailed statement addressing why passengers were not allowed to leave the aircraft in Taipei.
Although diversions are common in aviation, extended onboard confinement is not, particularly when no immediate safety threat exists.
The incident has sparked debate about the legal and operational constraints airlines face when handling unexpected diversions at foreign airports.
Industry observers say this case may prompt calls for better international coordination and clearer policies on passenger handling during prolonged diversions.
Stay tuned with us. Further, follow us on social media for the latest updates.
Join us on Telegram Group for the Latest Aviation Updates. Subsequently, follow us on Google News
Two Cathay Pacific A330 Faced Technical Issues, Airlines Says Sorry
The post Cathay Pacific Los Angeles to Hong Kong Flight Passengers Stranded for 28 Hours appeared first on Aviation A2Z.