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| The incident happened aboard a Cathay Pacific flight to HK from Kaoshiung |
A 28-year-old Filipino seafarer appeared before West Kowloon Court on Friday charged with engaging in disorderly conduct aboard an aircraft, after he allegedly tried to dash toward an exit door during a Cathay Pacific flight from Taiwan to Hong Kong.
Jessie Olbedo Hernandez asked for bail, but the court
rejected his application. He was returned to jail custody until his next court
appearance on January 8. Prosecutors asked for the proceedings to be adjourned
to allow them time to get legal advice from the Department of Justice.
Court records show the incident happened on Wednesday
aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX423, which was then traveling from Kaoshiung to
Hong Kong.
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| Basahin ang detalye! |
Hernandez reportedly suffered an emotional breakdown
and pushed past a flight attendant, and attempted to get to one of the aircraft’s
emergency doors. Flight attendants and a female passenger moved swiftly to
subdue him, and kept him restrained until the aircraft landed safely in Hong
Kong.
Some reports said he flashed a photo of his daughter, pulled out an envelope containing cash, and repeatedly shouted that he wanted to get off the plane.
The charge sheet alleges that the defendant’s act of engaging in disorderly conduct aboard a Hong Kong-controlled aircraft operating outside local airspace “jeopardized, or were likely to jeopardize, the good order and discipline on board the flight.”
Hernandez reserved his right to ask for a bail review
within eight days from his court appearance.
Under Hong Kong law, unruly conduct aboard an aircraft is punishable with a maximum penalty of HK$10,000 fine and six months in prison for summary offences, and up to HK$100,000 in fine and 5 years in prison on an indictment.
