OREANDA-NEWS. February 07, 2012. Cathay Pacific confirms that one of its freighter aircraft was involved in a towing incident at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA), reported the press-centre of Cathay Pacific.

The Boeing 747-400 freighter was being towed on a taxiway from the airport’s cargo area to the maintenance bay when the tow bar was accidentally disengaged. As a result, the aircraft rolled partially onto the grass to the side of the taxiway next to the south runway before the towing crew brought it to a full stop.

One towing crew was in the cockpit at the time of the incident but he was not injured. No damage to the aircraft has been reported. The aircraft was not due to operate and was not carrying any freight.

The operation of the runways and taxiways at HKIA has not been affected and all other flights continue as normal.

Cathay Pacific’s engineering support team is actively working to tow the freighter off the grass and back to the maintenance bay area.

The incident has been reported to the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department. Cathay Pacific will cooperate in full with the authorities and Hong Kong Aircraft Engineering Company Limited (HAECO) into an investigation of the incident.