CLIFFORD LO CLIFFORD.LO@SCMP.COM
PUBLISHED : Tuesday, 28 July, 2015, 12:30pm
UPDATED : Tuesday, 28 July, 2015, 12:37pm
Photos of the incident were posted on social media. Photo: SCMP Pictures
Six mainland Chinese tourists were arrested at Hong Kong International Airport today on suspicion of assaulting seven ground crew members after their Beijing-bound flight was delayed for more than six hours.
The seven Hong Kong Airlines staff members – three men and four women – suffered minor injuries in the incident and were treated at North Lantau Hospital, according to police.
The six tourists, three men and three women aged 21 to 42, were waiting to take Hong Kong Airlines flight 304 in the airport’s departure hall when the incident happened at about 2.30am, police said.
Seven Hong Kong Airlines ground staff were injured in the incident. Photo: SCMP Pictures
The flight was originally scheduled to leave for Beijing at 8.10pm yesterday.
“The flight was delayed because of air traffic control in Beijing,” a Hong Kong Airlines spokeswoman said.
READ MORE: Rude awakening: Chinese tourists have the money, but not the manners
A report was made to police shortly before 2.30am saying a group of people had a dispute over the delayed flight with the airline staff, according to police.
Six mainland tourists were arrested. Photo: SCMP Pictures
“Among the group, a woman tried to run to the gate but was stopped by seven staff members,” a police spokesman said.
“Another five people came forward and they pushed and shoved the airline staff,” a police spokesman said.
The police spokesman said the seven airline employees suffered minor injuries and officers arrested the six tourists for assault.
The Hong Kong Airlines flight eventually departed for Beijing at 4.45am. Photo: Reuters
At 11.30am the six tourists were still being held for questioning and none of them had been charged, police said.
Police are treating the case as “common assault” and officers were investigating.
The flight left Hong Kong at 4.45am, according to the Airport Authority’s website – a delay of more than 8 ½ hours.
Hong Kong Airlines said it was not appropriate to comment on the case as police were investigating.
http://m.scmp.com/news/hong-kong/law-crime/article/1844215/six-mainland-chinese-tourists-arrested-hong-kong-airport
