On Feb 1st, 2026, a Cathay Pacific Airbus A321-200N (A321neo) operating flight CX-449 from Kaohsiung (Taiwan) to Hong Kong (China) was forced to turn back shortly after departure following a suspected engine issue.
The aircraft, registered B-HPP, had departed Kaohsiung and was climbing through approximately FL250 when the flight crew suspected an oil leak on one of the LEAP engines. As a precaution, the crew stopped the climb and decided to return to the departure airport.
The Airbus landed safely on Kaohsiung’s runway 09 about 40 minutes after departure. No injuries were reported, and the approach and landing were conducted without further complications.
Cathay Pacific later confirmed the event was due to a technical issue, without providing additional details. Affected passengers were rebooked onto other flights to continue their journeys.
The aircraft remains on the ground in Kaohsiung approximately 42 hours after landing, indicating that maintenance inspections and corrective actions are ongoing.
