Cathay Pacific issued an apology on Friday to passengers of two flights from Nepal to Hong Kong after an outbreak of food poisoning affected 36 individuals earlier in the week.

The affected passengers were on flights CX640, which operated on Tuesday and Wednesday. They experienced symptoms such as vomiting, nausea, and abdominal pain shortly after their meals. According to the South China Morning Post, 16 passengers on the Wednesday flight fell ill within 10-30 minutes after consuming sandwiches, leading authorities to identify these as a potential source of contamination. Additionally, 20 passengers on the Tuesday flight reported similar symptoms, with the in-flight meals serving as the common link.

A spokesperson for Cathay Pacific clarified that the contamination came from outside the airline's direct operations. The carrier has vowed to take corrective measures if the meals are indeed confirmed as the cause of the outbreak. The Bangkok Post reported that the airline would cooperate fully with the investigation.

The Center for Health Protection has launched an investigation to determine whether there is an epidemiological connection among the affected passengers.