Eight people were hurt, two of them seriously, when they were tossed about by turbulence during a Cathay Pacific flight on Thursday, reported South China Morning Post.

The Airbus A-330 from Bangkok was approaching Chek Lap Kok airport just before 2pm when it was rocked by turbulence.

It is the second such incident in Hong Kong this month and the second second time in 48 hours that a Cathay flight ran into difficulties while approaching the city, reported The Standard.

Typhoon

The latest case occured a day after Typhoon Fengshen lashed the territory with heavy rain, floods and landslides that left 17 people injured.

The Cathay flight, carrying 241 passengers and 12 crew members flew into rough weather about 90km south-east of Hong Kong.

A Cathay spokesman said the captain alerted the Hong Kong control tower that the plane had encountered turbulence and there were several injured on board.

Ambulances and fire engines stood by as the plane landed safely. Some of the injured - five passengers and three crew members - were carried on stretchers with head and neck supports and wearing oxygen masks.

Two female crew members, aged 21 and 40, were in serious condition in hospital. The six others, including three elderly people, were discharged after treatment.

On 12 Jun, eight crew members and five passengers on a Dragonair flight from Beijing were hurt when the plane was hit by turbulence before landing in Hong Kong.

On Wednesday, a Cathay flight from Toronto was forced to abort its landing due to bad weather. It landed safely later.

This article was first published in The New Paper on June 28, 2008.