A 44-year-old man was arrested after allegedly holding a male Cathay Pacific intern hostage with a knife at Taiwan Taoyuan International Airport on Saturday, 12 September.
The incident happened inside a Cathay Pacific employee rest area at Terminal 1.
Taiwan’s Aviation Police Bureau said it received a report at about 5.25pm that a man with a knife was involved in a dispute at the rest area.
Officers reached the scene and subdued the suspect at about 5.58pm. The intern was injured and taken for treatment.
Man Reportedly Followed Wife to Airport After Argument
The precise motive remains under investigation.
Police said their initial information indicated that the man had become agitated because of a family-related matter.
United Daily News reported that the man had allegedly argued with his wife before following her to the airport as she prepared to travel overseas.
According to the report, he wanted to continue speaking to her after she had already entered the departure area, and went to the Cathay Pacific counter hoping to buy a ticket for the same flight.
The report said the ticket purchase did not go smoothly. The man then allegedly followed a male intern who was returning to the airline’s staff rest area.
A confrontation subsequently broke out inside, and the man allegedly produced a knife, injured the intern and prevented him from leaving.
As these details form part of the ongoing investigation, police have not formally confirmed that the dispute with his wife was the definitive reason for the alleged attack.
Intern Suffered Minor Injuries
Taiwan’s Central News Agency reported that the intern suffered a cut to the area between his thumb and index finger as well as a minor injury to his abdomen.
Police described his injuries as minor, and he was treated at a medical facility at the airport.
The suspect also suffered minor superficial injuries when he was subdued, according to police.
Officers later examined a backpack he had left in the airport’s arrivals hall and found no dangerous items inside.
The case has been referred to investigators under the direction of the Taoyuan District Prosecutors Office. Police said they were still working to establish the full circumstances and motive.
Cathay Pacific Says It Will Support Affected Employee
Cathay Pacific confirmed that an unidentified person had entered its staff rest area at Taoyuan Airport and was subsequently subdued and arrested by local police.
The airline said it was concerned about the safety of its employees and would provide the affected staff member with the assistance he needed.
Cathay Pacific also said it would cooperate fully with the investigation.
