Hong Kong (Rajeev Sharma): A cargo plane operated by a Turkish airline skidded off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport in the early hours of Monday, ending in tragedy as the aircraft slid into the surrounding waters and claimed two lives.
The Boeing 747 freighter, arriving from Dubai and operated by ACT Airlines under a lease to Emirates, attempted to land at approximately 3:50 a.m. when the incident occurred. The jet failed to stop on the north runway and crashed into the sea beyond the airfield.
Authorities confirmed that four members of the flight crew were rescued and taken to a nearby hospital. However, two individuals working on the ground were killed when the aircraft veered off course. Officials have not yet released further details about the victims.
Video footage and aerial images broadcast on local networks showed the aircraft partially submerged near the airport’s perimeter. The front section of the plane remained visible above the waterline, while the rear appeared heavily damaged, suggesting the tail section may have detached during the crash.
Emirates, the Dubai-based airline that leased the aircraft from ACT Airlines, clarified that the flight—operating as EK9788—was not carrying any cargo at the time. The airline also noted that the aircraft was under a wet lease agreement, meaning that ACT provided the aircraft, crew, maintenance, and insurance.
The freighter had departed from Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), Dubai’s dedicated cargo hub. Emirates, while primarily a passenger airline, maintains a strong cargo presence through DWC and has recently expanded its freighter operations to meet rising global logistics demands.
Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department announced it is coordinating with the involved airlines and will launch a full investigation into the crash. Recovery operations are underway, with the priority being to secure the flight data recorders and assess the damage to the aircraft.
As a result of the accident, the airport’s north runway has been closed for inspection and cleanup. The remaining two runways continue to handle air traffic with minimal disruption, according to airport officials.
The airport, known for its high traffic and precision logistics, rarely sees such serious incidents. Aviation safety analysts suggest that weather, mechanical failure, or human error could be among the factors under review.
