Two airport security staff were killed early on Monday after a cargo plane from Dubai skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and collided with their patrol vehicle, pushing it into the sea, authorities said.
The Boeing 747 freighter, operated by Turkish carrier ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates, was involved in Hong Kong’s deadliest airport incident in more than 25 years. The aircraft also ended up partially submerged in water near the airport’s sea wall, but all four crew members escaped unhurt.
Steven Yiu, executive director of airport operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong, said the two airport staff were not breathing when rescued from the water. “One was confirmed dead at the scene and the other later at hospital,” he said.
The crash occurred around 3:50 a.m. local time (1950 GMT on Sunday). According to air traffic control recordings reviewed by Reuters, the pilot confirmed plans to land on runway 07L and did not report any technical issues before the crash.
Man Ka-chai, chief accident and safety investigator for Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority, said air traffic control had directed the flight to land on the north runway but “we didn’t receive any message requesting help from the pilot.”
Yiu said the security patrol car was operating in its usual area and “definitely didn’t rush onto the runway.” He added that the aircraft suddenly veered left after touchdown before striking the vehicle, a manoeuvre he described as “not a normal path.”
Photos from the scene showed the cargo jet, bearing AirACT livery, partially submerged with its nose and tail sections separated and an escape slide deployed.
Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department confirmed the aircraft “deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea.” Emirates said flight EK9788 sustained damage on landing and that “crew are confirmed to be safe and there was no cargo onboard.”
The airport authority said the northern runway would reopen once safety checks were complete, while other runways remained operational.
Yiu noted that the two victims had worked at the airport for seven and 12 years respectively, and said the authority would provide support to their families.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, this was Hong Kong’s deadliest airport accident since 1999, when a China Airlines flight crashed on landing, killing three people.
Faridah Abdulkadiri
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