Three Cathay Pacific pilots who caught COVID-19 in Germany fired
Cathay Pacific has fired three pilots who caught COVID-19 while in Germany citing their involvement in a “serious breach” of procedures during “overseas layovers.”
In a statement on Thursday, the Hong Kong-based airline did not reveal details of the breach but said the three individuals were “no longer employed” by the company.
“After investigation into these cases, regrettably, the findings indicate a serious breach of requirements during crew overseas layovers,” the statement said.
South China Morning Post reported that a source within the airline said the trio were suspected of leaving their hotel rooms in Germany.
Germany recently reported its highest number of new COVID-19 infections since the beginning of the pandemic.
Other staff who stayed at the hotel have also been ordered to quarantine by the Hong Kong government.
Under the current rules, all Cathay Pacific staff on layovers must travel from the airport to the hotel via pre-arranged company transport and wear a face mask.
Hong Kong has one of the world’s strictest COVID-19-related travel restrictions that require individuals from high-risk countries to complete a 21-day quarantine in a hotel regardless of their vaccination status. Arrivals from other countries deemed not high risk have to quarantine for 14 days.
The new restrictions put in place by the airline direct staff returning to Hong Kong from layovers abroad to remain at home and “avoid unnecessary social contact” for 21 days.
— Updated at 5:50 p.m.
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