The Chinese special administrative region of Hong Kong often causes a stir with draconian measures against the corona virus. Two Cathay Pacific flight attendants have now been arrested. They are accused of breaking the quarantine.

In this context, Hong Kong imposed strict measures in advance, which also had an impact on international air traffic. Among other things, it is claimed that the two flight attendants "imported" the Omicron variant. The consequence of this: The entry and quarantine regulations have been tightened again and airlines are allowed to leave 153 countries no longer carry transfer passengers.

According to official information, the two male flight attendants are said to be 44 and 45 years old respectively and were deployed on flights from the United States to Hong Kong on December 24 and 25, 2021. According to the regulations at the time, they would have had to go into a three-week quarantine immediately afterwards. However, they are said to have ignored them and undertaken some activities. In the further course, both tested positive for the omicron corona variant.

The matter is so heated in Hong Kong that even Chief Executive Carrie Lam has personally intervened. Among other things, she said that, in her view, it is proven that the two flight attendants brought Omicron to the SAR and are also said to have broken the quarantine.

The stewards are sacked from their jobs at Cathay Pacific as the carrier may have given notice of dismissal due to regulatory pressure. But that's not all: The management of the Chinese special administrative region also ordered the arrest of the two flight attendants. This has already been done by the police.

Cathay: "The two are no longer Cathay employees"

However, local media reports that other airline employees are also said to have broken their three-week quarantines, but the authorities are not really interested in their "cases". There is an allegation that the chief executive in particular wants to make a real example of the two flight attendants who have now been arrested. It is unclear what punishment they can expect in the event of a court conviction. In the People's Republic of China and the Hong Kong Special Administrative Region, violations of quarantine or corona measures can result in long prison sentences.

The airline Cathay Pacific said on request, among other things, that the two flight attendants are no longer employees of the company. They parted ways immediately. Furthermore, "Cathay Pacific recognizes the critical importance of complying with pandemic control measures both in Hong Kong and abroad."