During a Cathay Pacific flight from Hong Kong to London, a three-year-old child traveling in business class with their family was accidentally served white wine by the cabin crew. The child, mistaking the drink for water, took a sip and said it tasted “sour,” which revealed the mistake.
The flight attendant immediately apologized and replaced the drink with water. However, the mother did not let the incident be dismissed as a simple mistake. She reported it to the cabin supervisor, and the situation also involved the cockpit crew and medical personnel on board. A French doctor on the flight reportedly downplayed the incident by saying, “In France, children drink all the time, one sip won’t hurt.”
After the flight, Cathay Pacific apologized, refunded the child’s ticket, and offered upgrade vouchers and compensation for any medical expenses. The family, however, demanded that the matter be taken seriously and that concrete steps be taken to prevent similar incidents. The airline stated that it would enhance crew training and that an internal investigation was ongoing.
