Two airport security officers were killed early Monday after a cargo plane from Dubai skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and crashed into 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 accident in over 25 years. The aircraft came to rest partially submerged near the airport’s sea wall, but all four crew members escaped unharmed.
Steven Yiu, Executive Director of Airport Operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong, said the victims were pulled from the water without signs of life. “One was confirmed dead at the scene, and the other passed away later in hospital,” he told reporters.
The incident occurred at about 3:50 a.m. local time (1950 GMT on Sunday). Air traffic control recordings reviewed by Reuters indicated that the pilot, cleared to land on runway 07L, did not report any technical problems before the crash.
Chief accident investigator Man Ka-chai of the Air Accident Investigation Authority said the plane had been directed to land on the north runway. “We didn’t receive any distress message from the pilot,” he added.
According to Yiu, the patrol vehicle was in its designated area and did not enter the runway unexpectedly. He said the aircraft “suddenly veered left after touchdown before striking the vehicle,” describing the move as “not a normal path.”
Images from the scene showed the cargo jet bearing AirACT markings, with its nose and tail sections broken apart and an emergency slide deployed into the water.
Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department confirmed the plane “deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea.” Emirates said flight EK9788 suffered damage during landing, but “the crew are safe, and there was no cargo onboard.”
The airport authority stated that the north runway would reopen after safety inspections, while other runways remained in use. Yiu said the victims had served at the airport for seven and 12 years, respectively, and pledged support for their families.
According to the Aviation Safety Network, the crash is Hong Kong’s deadliest airport incident since 1999, when a China Airlines flight accident claimed three lives.
