HONG KONG: A cargo aircraft veered off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday while landing, struck a security patrol vehicle, and then slid into the sea — resulting in the deaths of two men in the vehicle.
Officials from the Airport Authority Hong Kong said the plane came off the north runway, broke through a fence, and ended up partially submerged in the water bordering the airport. The fuselage of the aircraft remained partly in seawater, its emergency evacuation slides deployed — described as one of the most serious such incidents since the airport opened in 1998.
One of the victims, a 30-year-old man in the ground vehicle, was confirmed dead at the scene. The other, aged 41, died later after being rushed to hospital. Both were retrieved by divers from the submerged car about five metres from shore.
The aircraft involved was a Boeing freighter leased on a short-term “wet” lease from ACT Airlines (based in Istanbul) and operated under lease by Emirates Airlines. Emirates confirmed the crew were safe and that no cargo was on board at the time of the accident.
An investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the runway excursion and subsequent sea crash. Among the questions to be examined will be the aircraft’s speed, runway condition, possible mechanical issues, weather factors, and whether any procedural or coordination failures occurred.
Given that Hong Kong International Airport is among the busiest cargo airports worldwide, the incident raises concerns about runway safety, airport perimeter protection, and emergency response in a major aviation hub. The damage to the fuselage, the unusual runway departure, and the tragic ground-vehicle fatalities together mark this as one of the more significant aviation safety events in the region’s recent history.
Authorities are cooperating with the airline, airport operators, and aviation safety regulators to ensure a full account of the incident is published and to review any needed safety enhancements or procedural changes.
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