Cathay Pacific Airways confirmed that flight CX831 from New York to Hong Kong was diverted on Wednesday due to a geomagnetic storm, a space weather event that can disrupt GPS navigation and signals. The flight made a “technical stop” in Osaka, Japan, en route to Hong Kong to ensure the safety of the passengers and crew.

While the geomagnetic storm posed potential risks to flight navigation systems, meteorologists downplayed its impact on Hong Kong, citing the city’s low latitude, which makes it less likely to be affected by such events.

The flight, which landed in Osaka at 6:25 p.m., resumed its journey after an hour and 20 minutes with a new crew. It reached Hong Kong at 10:27 p.m. on Thursday, taking 17 hours and 17 minutes—about 1 hour and 42 minutes longer than expected.