The airbridge caved in tearing the door off a Cathay Pacific aircraft and also wounding one of the ground staff.

According to Hong Kong airport and Cathay airlines, all 262 passengers had boarded the plane when the boarding bridge gave way.

A technician was injured in the falling rear bridge that was connected to the first class cabin of the Nagoya airbound A330 aircraft that ripped the door off the aircraft.

A spokesman from the Hong Kong Airport confirmed, "No passengers or crew members were on the airbridge at the time. We are investigating the cause of the incident.”

He added the use of all rear bridges at the airport has been terminated pending a full inspection and travellers would board airplanes by the head bridges.

He said the injured staff member’s condition was stable.

A spokeswoman from Cathay Pacific verified the aircraft was slightly damaged. She refused to comment on whether the airline would be seeking damages from the airport authorities.