A junior pilot at Cathay Pacific Air (00293.HK) caused a serious 26-hour delay to a flight from Sydney to Hong Kong due to failing an alcohol breath test.

According to reports, the affected flight is CX110, which was originally scheduled to depart from Sydney at 7:35am local time on Wednesday (24th) and arrive in Hong Kong at 3:05pm local time. However, one junior pilot failed the alcohol breath test required by Australian authorities and was unable to fly, resulting in the flight being significantly delayed until it finally departed at 10:35am local time this morning (25th) and is expected to arrive in Hong Kong at 5:27pm local time. The notice to passengers also states that 'due to operational reasons, the flight will not carry passengers'.

Cathay Pacific Air has now dispatched another pilot from Hong Kong to Sydney to take over the flight and is also considering firing the junior pilot involved. (js/cy)

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