A tragic crash at Hong Kong International Airport has claimed the lives of two ground staff after a cargo aircraft veered off the runway and plunged into the sea.
The Emirates flight EK9788, arriving from Dubai at around 03:50 local time (19:50 GMT), collided with an airport patrol vehicle, leaving both of its occupants dead.
The four crew members onboard survived. The fatal incident has prompted a wide-ranging investigation into air traffic procedures and safety systems at one of Asia’s busiest aviation hubs.
Officials investigate rare runway accident
The Emirates cargo plane, a Boeing 747-481 operated by Turkish carrier Act Airlines under a wet lease agreement, was not carrying cargo at the time of landing.
The aircraft skidded off the runway, broke through the perimeter fencing, and crashed into a patrol vehicle travelling along a service road parallel to the runway before plunging into the sea.
Authorities said the runway lights and guidance signs were operating normally, and air traffic control had provided correct landing instructions.
Investigators are now trying to determine why the plane turned toward the sea instead of maintaining its intended path.
No distress signal was sent before impact, and emergency crews reached the site within two minutes.
Divers later recovered the bodies of the two ground staff, aged 30 and 41, who had seven and 12 years of experience respectively.
Runway operations and safety systems come under scrutiny
Airport officials emphasised that the patrol car was moving within its authorised area and did not enter the runway.
The crash has led to questions about whether adverse weather, human error, or mechanical issues could have caused the aircraft to deviate.
The Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) is leading efforts to recover the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the sea to understand the final moments of the approach.
Images from the scene showed the aircraft fractured into two main sections, with parts of the fuselage submerged.
One evacuation slide was deployed successfully, aiding the safe rescue of the crew.
Despite the severe impact, all four members were rescued unharmed. The police have said that potential criminal investigations will not be ruled out as part of the ongoing inquiry.
Flight disruption continues as one runway remains closed
Hong Kong International Airport temporarily closed the affected runway for the day, though its two remaining runways continued operations.
The Airport Authority confirmed that at least 11 incoming cargo flights scheduled for Monday were cancelled.
The crash has caused operational delays and renewed attention to how quickly airport staff can respond to emergencies involving large aircraft.
This marks the second fatal incident since the airport relocated from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok in July 1998.
The previous deadly accident occurred in August 1999, when a China Airlines passenger jet crash-landed during a typhoon, resulting in three fatalities.
The airport has maintained one of the best safety records in the region since then, making Monday’s tragedy a rare and deeply concerning event.
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