A cargo plane skidded off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport early on Monday, plunging into the sea and killing two ground staff. The incident, one of Hong Kong's deadliest aviation events in years, saw Emirates flight EK9788, operated by Act Airlines, veer off course shortly after landing from Dubai. While the four crew members onboard the aircraft survived, two people in an airport patrol vehicle perished.
Details of the Crash
The Boeing 747-481 cargo aircraft, wet-leased from Turkish carrier Act Airlines, was arriving from Dubai at approximately 03:50 local time (19:50 GMT) when it veered off the runway. Airport officials stated that the plane crashed through a perimeter fence, colliding with an airport patrol vehicle and pushing it into the sea, while airport operations executive director Steven Yiu clarified that the patrol car was traveling on a road outside the runway's fencing "at a safe distance from the runway" and "definitely didn't run out onto the runway. " He added that the plane didn't send out a distress signal upon landing.
Casualties and Investigation
Divers successfully located the bodies of the two ground staff, aged 30 and 41, who had seven and 12 years' experience respectively, while the four crew members onboard the plane managed to open emergency doors and were rescued by fire service staff who arrived within two minutes. Authorities have launched a comprehensive investigation into the incident, with police not ruling out criminal investigations. Officials from the Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) are actively searching for the. Flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder, also known as the black boxes, in the sea.
Airport Operations Impact
The affected runway will remain closed for the remainder of the day, though the airport's other two runways are still operational, while at least 11 cargo flights scheduled to arrive at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday have been cancelled. Hong Kong's transport bureau has expressed profound sadness over the deaths and extended condolences to the families of the victims. This marks only the second fatal incident at the Chek Lap. Kok airport since its relocation from Kai Tak in July 1998.
