Onboard Altercation Forces Removal of Couple, Delays HK Express Flight

Post by : Raina Nasser

An argument between two passengers on an HK Express service from Da Nang to Hong Kong on Sunday, November 2 escalated into a physical confrontation that required both to be taken off the aircraft before departure and delayed the flight by over an hour.

Reporting by the South China Morning Post indicates the incident began in the departure area at Da Nang International Airport, where the woman accused her partner of hiring sex workers and of a prior assault. The man tried to leave the area but the woman continued to shout, citing an alleged incident on October 1 and asserting that the matter had damaged his reputation.

The dispute resumed after boarding. The woman, who had been seated separately, demanded to sit beside the man. Crew members advised that seating changes were not possible, after which she became increasingly agitated and pushed a flight attendant to the floor, prompting other cabin staff to intervene.

Witnesses reported that the woman wept and accused crew of bullying, while the man told staff she was mentally unstable and unfit to fly. Following standard safety procedures, cabin and ground personnel removed both passengers from the aircraft.

In an official statement, HK Express said its team acted in line with company policy. Both passengers disembarked and flight UO559 departed after a delay of one hour and 25 minutes, ultimately arriving in Hong Kong at 10:50 PM. The airline apologised to affected travellers for the disruption.

HK Express also praised its cabin crew for their professionalism during the incident and reiterated its zero-tolerance policy for disruptive behaviour on board, emphasising the priority of passenger safety and orderly operations.