Hong Kong: A cargo plane skidded off the northern runway into the sea while landing at Hong Kong International Airport, resulting in the deaths of two people, the airport confirmed.
The northern runway was closed following the accident, but the south and central runways continued operations, with flights reportedly unaffected on October 20.
The Boeing 747 cargo aircraft, carrying an Emirates flight number EK9788, arrived from Dubai at approximately 3:50 am local time. Photos from the scene showed the aircraft partially submerged near the airport’s sea wall, with its nose and tail sections separated and an escape slide deployed.
All four crew members on board were rescued, according to Hong Kong International Airport. Among ground personnel, one staff member was rescued, while another was reported missing. Later reports from the media confirmed that two men in a ground vehicle died during the incident.
Emirates stated that the Boeing 747 was wet-leased from ACT Airlines, a Turkish carrier providing additional cargo capacity to major airlines, and that there was no cargo on board. Emirates confirmed that the crew was safe.
The Civil Aviation Department of Hong Kong said that “the Cargo plane had deviated from the northern runway after landing and ditched into the sea,” and investigations are ongoing to determine the cause of the accident.
Steven Yiu Siu-Chung, Executive Director for Airport Operations, stated that weather conditions were suitable for flight operations at the time of the accident.
This incident highlights the risks associated with cargo plane operations at busy international airports and the emergency response measures that ensured the safety of crew members while tragically resulting in ground fatalities. This is the second ever deadly incident at the current Hong Kong airport since its opening in 1998.
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