Cathay Pacific flight intercepted by Hungarian NATO fighter jets, airline says safety was never compromised

East Asia

Flight CX257 from Hong Kong to London experienced a “temporary loss of communication” with local air traffic control over Romanian airspace on Jul 4.

An Airbus A350 passenger aircraft of Cathay Pacific arrives from Hong Kong and an Airbus A350 passenger aircraft of Asiana Airlines prepares to take off to Seoul at JFK International Airport in New York as the Manhattan skyline looms in the background on Feb 7, 2024. (Photo: AFP/Charly Triballeau)

09 Jul 2026 02:35PM

HONG KONG: Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has expressed “serious concern” over a recent incident involving a London-bound Cathay Pacific flight that was intercepted by a pair of Hungarian NATO fighter jets after briefly losing contact with air traffic control over Romanian airspace.In emailed responses to Hong Kong media outlets, Cathay Pacific confirmed that Flight CX257 from Hong Kong to London experienced a “temporary loss of communication” with local air traffic control on Jul 4.There was a “subsequent interception by the authorities in accordance with internationally recognised protocols,” the airline said.Communication was eventually restored, and the flight continued to London’s Heathrow Airport “as planned”.