A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning when a cargo plane arriving from Dubai crash-landed at Hong Kong International Airport, veering off the runway and plunging into the sea. Two ground personnel were confirmed dead following the accident.
The aircraft, operating as Emirates SkyCargo flight EK9788 and flown by Turkish carrier AirACT, was attempting to land at approximately 3:50 AM local time when it lost control on the newly opened third runway. According to airport authorities, the Boeing 747 freighter broke through perimeter fencing and struck an airport patrol vehicle, pushing it into the water.
The collision claimed the lives of two members of the airport’s ground staff who were inside the patrol car at the time. The four crew members on board the plane were rescued from the aircraft, with no immediate reports of injuries among them.
Hong Kong Fire Services reported that a rapid response was initiated within two minutes of the crash, deploying 213 personnel and 45 emergency vehicles and marine vessels. Firefighters and medics worked swiftly to secure the scene and recover those affected.
Steven Yiu Siu-Chung, Executive Director of Airport Operations, said during a press briefing that weather conditions were favorable at the time of landing. He confirmed that airport operations were not broadly impacted, though the north runway has been temporarily shut down. Flights continue using the central and southern runways.
