An almost full capacity Cathay Pacific flight was ordered to steepen its ascent, apparently to avoid unreported military traffic, as it left Shanghai for Hong Kong over the weekend, a news report said.
A passenger, who was aboard CX (Cathay Pacific) Flight 365, said the airplane picked up speed as if its engines were about to explode, and changed course to the right. He said he suspected it was only to avoid a storm, according to the South China Morning Post newspaper.
The passenger plane picked up speed suddenly and changed course because the Shanghai control tower ordered it to do so, it said.
Later, the pilot told passengers of the reason for sudden change in course in an incident described as “not uncommon” in China, the newspaper said.
No Chinese military plane was presumed to have been near the passenger plane as no crew members saw any aircraft approaching and the passenger plane’s anti-collision system did not post any warning.
Most Chinese airports are under the control of the military, and passenger planes are frequently ordered by control towers to change course or delay their takeoff and landing, the newspaper said.
As a result, Shanghai-Hong Kong flights are usually delayed by 90-120 minutes, it said.