3-Year-Old Given White Wine on Int’l Flight—Airline Responds

Source: OT-Team(G)，极目新闻; 环球时报

A recent social media post has sparked widespread attention after a passenger claimed that Cathay Pacific mistakenly served white wine to his 3-year-old son, believing it to be water.

According to the passenger, the incident occurred on April 24 aboard Cathay Pacific flight CX255 from Hong Kong to London. The child was seated separately from his parents. During the meal service, the family selected chicken and water for the child. After some time, the boy reportedly told his mother that "the water tastes sour." She took a sip and realized it was white wine.

The passenger said he immediately alerted the flight attendant, who allegedly glanced at the cup, took it away without explanation, replaced it with water, and then left without offering an apology. The family later insisted on speaking with another crew member and requested medical attention. A female doctor on board was located through an in-flight announcement. After examining the child, she determined that no immediate treatment was necessary.

"Because I was worried about the effects of alcohol on a young child, I checked his condition every 30 minutes throughout the flight and barely slept," the father wrote. "The crew member who made the mistake never apologized."

In response to growing public concern, reporters contacted Cathay Pacific's customer service. A representative confirmed that the airline had assigned a dedicated team to handle the situation and was in communication with the affected passenger to resolve the matter satisfactorily.

On May 7, Cathay Pacific's Corporate Affairs Department issued an official statement:

"Cathay Pacific deeply apologizes for the incident on April 24 aboard flight CX255 from Hong Kong to London, in which an alcoholic beverage was mistakenly served to a minor. Our crew contacted onboard medical personnel and consulted with an independent medical agency to ensure the child's safety, while also providing relevant support."

The statement added:

"Upon arrival, the passenger and his family disembarked the aircraft as usual. Cathay Pacific takes this incident very seriously and has launched an internal investigation to ensure appropriate follow-up measures are implemented. A compensation offer has been made, and we will continue to provide necessary support to the passenger and his family."