Source: OT-Team(G), 新京报; 极目新闻
Hainan Airlines Flight HU7712 was forced to make an emergency landing in Taiyuan on September 9 due to heavy rain in Beijing. Controversy arose over the foreign captain's English-first announcements and the handling of passenger concerns.
On the evening of September 9, Hainan Airlines Flight HU7712, traveling from Shenzhen to Beijing, was forced to make an emergency landing at Taiyuan Wusu International Airport due to heavy rain in Beijing. However, what followed around the incident, involving the foreign captain, sparked heated debates, leading to a series of discussions.
Emergency Landing and Passenger Response
According to reports, one passenger urgently needed to reach Beijing for a scheduled surgery the following day. The passenger requested to be transferred to a flight bound for Beijing as soon as possible. The crew explained that they needed to report the situation to higher authorities and arrange resources, which made it impossible to accommodate the request on the spot. This led to an emotional reaction from the passenger, which was captured in a viral video where the passenger was seen kneeling to plead with the airport staff.
On the 14th, Hainan Airlines issued a statement, explaining that the airline had arranged a charter bus to transport 36 passengers, who urgently needed to return to Beijing, overnight. The airline also offered meals and accommodation to passengers willing to take the next available flight to Beijing. For passengers who chose to return to Beijing on their own, Hainan Airlines promised to refund the unused segments of their tickets.
Controversies and Responses
The first controversy arose when the captain's announcement sequence – first in English, followed by Chinese – caused dissatisfaction among some passengers. One passenger pointed out: "The captain didn't speak Chinese first and started with English, which was also not fluent. He made two mistakes in his announcements."
In response, Hainan Airlines explained that, according to their operational manual, it is standard procedure for foreign pilots to make announcements in English first, followed by Chinese assistance from local crew members. The airline further clarified that this sequence is in accordance with regulations for foreign pilots.
Another controversy emerged when some passengers questioned the foreign captain's qualifications, claiming that the pilot was unfit to land in rainy conditions. One passenger, featured in a viral video, criticized: "The captain couldn't land in Beijing due to bad weather. Shouldn't they have known this in advance? Why didn't Hainan Airlines send a qualified captain to operate such a large 787, putting passengers' lives at risk?"
Industry insiders clarified that the decision to land in Taiyuan was made based on weather conditions at the intended destination. The weather in Beijing at the time did not meet the safety standards for landing. The notion that the captain lacked the qualifications to land in rainy conditions was also refuted. All airline pilots are uniformly trained and qualified to operate flights in various weather conditions, and there are no special qualifications based on weather conditions.
Public Reactions
Netizens quickly reacted to the incident, sharing their views online. Some comments included:
"It's like taking a taxi to downtown Shanghai but the driver doesn't know about the traffic restrictions and ends up taking you to the suburbs. In the meantime, there are two patients in the car wasting time."
"It's a domestic flight, so even if there's a habit of using English, the announcement should have been made in Chinese first. Also, before takeoff, weather conditions at the destination are always double-checked. There's no way they would have ignored it."
"I usually fly Hainan Airlines. Even on international flights, the Chinese announcement comes before the English one. The issue about the captain not being qualified for rainy landings seems off. If he didn't have the right qualifications, should he be flying the plane at all?"
"First of all, regarding the emergency landing in Taiyuan, there was no issue with the captain's decision. Safety comes first, and the captain's judgment should be respected. As for the English announcement, it might have been a case of nerves. Second, passengers have the right to voice their concerns, even if their requests were not entirely reasonable. Using English in negotiations is a common tactic. Third, the airline mishandled the situation, escalating the conflict. They should have been more prepared to manage delays, offer solutions, and provide better communication."
What do you think about this situation? Should the airline have handled things differently? And how do you feel about the foreign captain's announcements and qualifications in such weather conditions? Do you have a preference for the order of announcements, or does it not matter to you? Share your thoughts in the comments below.
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