A Hong Kong airline is insisting its cabin crew take kung fu lessons to help them to deal with drunk and unruly passengers.
Hong Kong Airlines said all staff had been invited to undergo training in wing chun — a form of kung fu used in close-range combat — but it was only compulsory for cabin crew, the Sunday Morning Post reported.
The airline has around three incidents involving disruptive passengers every week, Eva Chan, the carrier’s deputy general manager of corporate communication, told AFP.
Two weeks ago a crewmember had to put her martial arts training into practice on a flight from Beijing to Hong Kong.
“Normally, a female cabin crew can’t handle a fat guy, especially if he’s drunk, but because of the training, she can handle it quite easily,” said Chan.
Wing chun instructor Katherine Cheung said the martial art was ideal for airline crews.
“Wing chun can be used in small, confined spaces so it’s suited for an airplane. It’s easy to learn but difficult to master,” Cheung said.
