Aviation
Hong Kong Airport Crash: Two Ground Staff Killed as Cargo Jet Skids into Sea
Two ground workers were killed after an Emirates cargo plane overran a runway at Hong Kong's airport, crashing into the sea.
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By Timmy
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Two airport ground staff were killed after an Emirates cargo plane veered off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport in the early hours of Monday, striking a ground vehicle and plunging into the adjacent waters.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:50 AM, involved Emirates flight EK9788, a Boeing 747 freighter arriving from Dubai. The aircraft overran the north runway upon landing, colliding with a patrol vehicle before coming to a rest partially submerged in the sea.
The Civil Aviation Department (CAD) confirmed that the two individuals in the vehicle died in the accident. The four crew members aboard the aircraft were unharmed.
In a statement, a spokesperson for the Transport and Logistics Bureau expressed "profound concern and sorrow over the accident" and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. "Flight safety is of utmost importance," the spokesperson said, affirming that the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) would conduct a "thorough investigation" to determine the cause of the crash.
The north runway remains closed, but the airport's other two runways are operational, and flights have not been significantly affected, according to the Airport Authority's Executive Director of Airport Operations, Steven Yiu.
Emirates confirmed that the aircraft was a Boeing 747 freighter wet-leased from and operated by the Turkish company ACT Airlines. The airline stated that the plane "sustained damage on landing" and that there was no cargo on board.
The AAIA will lead the investigation, with the full support of the CAD and Airport Authority Hong Kong, to ascertain the circumstances surrounding the runway excursion. Further details are expected to be released as the investigation progresses.
