No Frogs On Cathay

Cathay Pacific Airways Ltd said a three month long ban on carrying live or perishable cargo in its new fleet of Boeing 777 aircraft is to be partially lifted. But live frogs "" which were blamed for the emergency evacuation of 306 passengers at the territory's Kai Tak airport in June "" are still prohibited. Boeing engineers suspect an over-sensitive fire sensor triggered by vapour given off by the frogs on their way to Chinese food markets caused the false fire alarm in the new twinjet's belly cargo hold. Sea food such as live lobster and tropical fish will soon be permitted. Live animals and perishables are an important revenue earning cargo but Cathay said it was premature to comment on whether the airline would be seeking compensation from Boeing for the loss of trade.