Two airport security officers were killed early Monday when a cargo plane from Dubai skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and collided with their patrol vehicle, sending it plunging into the sea, authorities said.
The Boeing 747 freighter, operated by Turkey’s ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates, was involved in Hong Kong’s deadliest airport accident in more than 25 years. The aircraft came to rest partially submerged near the airport’s sea wall, though all four crew members escaped unharmed.
The crash occurred around 3:50 a.m. local time (1950 GMT Sunday) as the cargo jet attempted to land on runway 07L. Air traffic control recordings reviewed by Reuters showed that the pilot had confirmed a normal approach and reported no technical difficulties before the crash.
According to Man Ka-chai, chief accident and safety investigator with the Air Accident Investigation Authority, the aircraft had been cleared to land on the north runway. “We didn’t receive any distress call or request for assistance from the pilot,” he said.
Steven Yiu, executive director of airport operations at the Airport Authority Hong Kong, said rescuers found the two airport security staff unresponsive in the water. “One was confirmed dead at the scene, and the other was pronounced dead at the hospital,” Yiu said.
He added that the patrol vehicle had been operating “in its usual area” and “definitely didn’t rush onto the runway.” Yiu said the aircraft suddenly veered left after touchdown before striking the vehicle — a deviation he described as “not a normal landing path.”
Photos from the crash site showed the AirACT cargo jet partially submerged, with its nose and tail sections separated and an escape slide deployed into the water.
The Civil Aviation Department said the aircraft “deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea.” Emirates confirmed that the flight, numbered EK9788, sustained damage upon landing but said there was no cargo onboard and that all crew were safe.
Airport authorities closed the northern runway for inspection, while other runways remained operational to minimize flight disruptions.
Yiu said the victims had served at the airport for seven and twelve years, respectively, and that support would be provided to their families. “We are deeply saddened by this tragedy and will ensure their loved ones receive all necessary assistance,” he said.
Investigators are examining potential causes, including runway surface conditions, mechanical failure, and possible pilot error.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, Monday’s crash is the deadliest airport incident in Hong Kong since 1999, when a China Airlines jet crashed during landing, killing three people.
As rescue crews worked to clear the wreckage, officials vowed a thorough investigation to determine how a routine cargo landing turned into one of the city’s most serious aviation tragedies in decades.
