Cargo Plane Skids Off Runway in Hong Kong, Two Security Workers Killed

A cargo aircraft veered off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport early today, colliding with a security patrol vehicle and resulting in the deaths of the two occupants of the vehicle, authorities reported.

The Boeing 747, operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines under a lease agreement with Emirates, was landing at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time from Dubai when the incident occurred. According to Steven Yiu, the airport authority’s executive director in airport operations, the pilots did not request assistance prior to landing and the aircraft skidded off the runway about halfway down its length. “The patrol car absolutely did not rush onto the runway. It was the plane that went off the runway and crashed into the patrol car outside the fence,” Yiu stated during a news conference.

All four crew members on board the aircraft were unharmed and were rescued from the plane, which broke into two parts and floated in the sea. Rescue divers recovered the bodies of the two security workers after a 40-minute search. One of the airport’s three runways remains closed, though officials say flights are currently unaffected. This incident raises concerns about safety protocols at one of the world’s busiest air hubs, as reported by Reuters.

The cause of the crash is under investigation by the Air Accident Investigation Authority, which will examine factors including the aircraft’s systems, operation, and maintenance. Investigators are seeking the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder. Emirates confirmed the aircraft was 32 years old and that it operates a robust cargo business.

Authorities are continuing to investigate the circumstances surrounding the crash and will release further details as they become available.