Cathay Pacific apologises after flight attendant mistakenly serves wine to 3-year-old

A flight attendant with Cathay Pacific Airways has come under scrutiny after mistakenly serving a glass of white wine to a 3-year-old boy in business class on a flight from Hong Kong to London, the South China Morning Post has reported. The child’s mother, who shared the incident on social media, expressed concern over the potential health risks of alcohol consumption by young children. Despite Cathay Pacific’s apology and compensation offer, including a refund and upgrade vouchers, the family has demanded a detailed explanation and assurances that such a mistake will not happen again.

The incident took place on April 24 during dinner service, when the child was mistakenly given a glass of white wine instead of water. The family initially assumed the drink was water, but the child later complained that it tasted sour. Upon tasting the drink, the parents realised it was wine. The mother immediately alerted a flight attendant, who apologised and replaced the glass with water. However, the family remained dissatisfied with the airline’s response and escalated the matter.

The airline acknowledged the mistake, offering compensation and stating that the crew took precautions by consulting medical professionals onboard and monitoring the child’s condition throughout the flight. The airline also emphasised that internal measures have been implemented to prevent such incidents in the future.

However, a flight purser anonymously claimed that this incident reflects broader concerns about declining service standards, citing inadequate training and rushed hiring as contributing factors. The purser suggested that such mistakes could be avoided with better training and adherence to established protocols. The airline has promised to enhance staff training to ensure that proper procedures are followed in the future.