Hong Kong, China: A cargo aircraft operating for Emirates SkyCargo skidded off the north runway at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, plunging partially into the sea and killing two ground personnel. The four crew members onboard the Boeing 747-400 freighter survived the crash.
According to Hong Kong authorities, the accident occurred around 3:50 a.m. local time when the aircraft, identified as TC-ACF, overshot the runway after landing. The plane was operating flight EK9788 from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo. The aircraft is owned and operated by ACT Airlines, a Turkish cargo carrier contracted by Emirates.
Initial reports suggest that the aircraft struck a security patrol vehicle positioned near the runway end, forcing the vehicle into the sea. “Both occupants of the vehicle were pulled from the water,” police told Reuters, confirming that one person died at the scene and the other later succumbed to injuries at the hospital.
The four Turkish crew members aboard the aircraft were rescued without serious injuries. Photos and videos circulating on social media showed the jet partially submerged near the seawall, with the rear fuselage section visibly damaged.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) has temporarily closed the north runway to facilitate investigation and aircraft recovery operations. The airport’s two other runways continue to operate normally.
An official investigation has been launched by the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department. Authorities said they are examining multiple factors, including braking performance, runway conditions, and possible mechanical issues. Early reports indicate that weather conditions were stable at the time of landing, making it unlikely that visibility or wind played a major role.
The Boeing 747-400 involved in the accident is 32 years old and had been converted from a passenger aircraft to a freighter several years ago. Emirates confirmed that the flight carried no cargo onboard during the incident.
“This tragic incident has claimed the lives of two valued airport workers,” said an Emirates spokesperson, adding that the airline is cooperating fully with local authorities and expressing condolences to the victims’ families.
