Tragedy at HKIA: Cargo Jet Skids Off Runway, Collides with Vehicle, Killing Two Airport Staff
Published Date: 21 Oct, 2025
HONG KONG—Two airport workers are dead after a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft skidded off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) early Monday morning, colliding with a security patrol vehicle and plunging both the plane and the vehicle into the sea.
The incident occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time as the Boeing 747-400 freighter, operating as Emirates SkyCargo Flight EK9788 and leased from Turkish carrier ACT Airlines, was landing on the north runway after a flight from Dubai.
Authorities confirmed that after touching down, the aircraft veered sharply to the left, departing the runway surface and breaching the airport’s perimeter fence. In doing so, it struck a ground patrol vehicle operating along the northern coastline road, outside the runway fence.
The force of the collision pushed the security vehicle into the water, where its two male occupants were trapped. Rescue divers quickly launched a search and retrieval operation. Both workers, aged 30 and 41, were pulled from the submerged vehicle but were later pronounced dead at the scene and at North Lantau Hospital, respectively.
The four crew members aboard the cargo jet were rescued safely and without apparent injury, despite the plane breaking into two major parts as it came to rest partially submerged in the shallow waters. Emirates confirmed the aircraft was operating on a wet-lease agreement and was not carrying any cargo at the time of the crash.
Investigation Underway
The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) has classified the event as an accident and immediately launched a formal investigation. Airport Authority officials stated that preliminary data indicates the pilots did not issue a distress call and did not respond to air traffic control after the plane began veering off its path.
Despite the severe nature of the incident, the Airport Authority confirmed that weather and runway conditions were suitable for landing at the time. The focus of the probe will now shift to investigating mechanical failure, aircraft systems, maintenance history, and human factors. Investigators are urgently searching the wreckage area for the Cockpit Voice Recorder (CVR) and Flight Data Recorder (FDR), commonly known as the "black boxes."
The North Runway (07R), where the accident occurred, remains closed for wreckage removal and damage assessment. While the other two runways at HKIA continue to operate, the unprecedented nature of the crash—the deadliest airport incident in Hong Kong in over 25 years—has caused significant disruption, leading to the cancellation of numerous cargo flights and delays for some passenger services.
Date: 21 Oct, 2025
