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A cargo plane associated with Turkish freight carrier ACT Airlines, operating on behalf of Emirates, veered off the runway during landing at Hong Kong International Airport, resulting in a collision with a security patrol vehicle that was subsequently pushed into the sea. The incident occurred early Monday morning and is the deadliest airport accident in Hong Kong in over 25 years. The Boeing 747 aircraft, which was partially submerged after falling into the water, was operated by ACT Airlines and had sustained damage upon landing. All four crew members aboard managed to escape, but two security personnel who responded to the scene lost their lives; one was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other later died at the hospital.
The security staff were not on the runway when the plane’s unexpected left turn caused it to strike their patrol vehicle, which was patrolling outside the runway fence along a designated road. According to airport officials, the patrol car was operating normally and not rushing onto the runway when the crash happened. The aircraft’s pilot was clear about their landing plans for runway 07L, with no technical issues reported during the approach, although the exact cause of the crash remains under investigation. Weather conditions, runway status, aircraft condition, and crew actions are all being examined.
The accident took place around 3:50 a.m. local Hong Kong time (7:50 p.m. GMT on Sunday). An air traffic control recording reviewed by Reuters revealed that the pilot confirmed their intention to land on the north runway but did not indicate any problems. Moments later, a controller mentioned an incident at the airfield. Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority confirmed the flight was directed to land on the north runway, and no distress signals were received from the pilot.
Despite the crash, scheduled flights at Hong Kong airport are unaffected, and the north runway, where the incident occurred, is expected to reopen after safety inspections are completed. Photos show the aircraft, painted with AirACT livery, partially submerged near the sea wall, with its nose and tail sections separated and an emergency slide deployed. The Civil Aviation Department stated that the aircraft deviated from the runway after landing and ended up in the sea.
Emirates reported that flight EK9788 experienced damage on landing and clarified that the aircraft was a Boeing 747 cargo plane leased from ACT Airlines, with no cargo onboard and the crew safe. Boeing has not yet issued a comment. ACT Airlines, based in Turkey, provides additional cargo capacity for major airlines but has not responded to request for comment outside of normal business hours.
Flight tracking data shows the aircraft was 32 years old and had previously operated as a passenger plane before being converted into a freighter. Airport authorities expressed their support and indicated they would assist the families of the deceased staff, who had been working at the airport for seven and twelve years respectively. This crash marks the deadliest aviation accident in Hong Kong since a 1999 China Airlines crash that resulted in three fatalities among the 315 onboard.
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