Two ground crew killed as Emirates cargo plane skids off runway into sea

Two ground crew members were killed early Monday when an Emirates cargo plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and plunged into the sea after striking their patrol vehicle.

The Boeing 747-400, operating as Flight UAE9788 from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport, landed around 3:50 a.m. on the north runway before veering off course, according to Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD). The aircraft slid across the tarmac, collided with the patrol car, and came to rest partially submerged in the waters beyond the runway.

A routine landing that turned fatal

Airport operations chief Steven Yiu said rescuers found the patrol car underwater with both victims trapped inside. One was a 41-year-old man who had worked at the airport for seven years, and the other was a 30-year-old man with 12 years of service. “The patrol car definitely did not overrun the runway,” Yiu said. “It was the aircraft that overran and struck the vehicle.”

The four crew members aboard the plane were rescued and taken to the hospital with minor injuries. No cargo was on board at the time, Emirates confirmed. The airline said the aircraft was leased from Act Airlines, a Turkish operator, and pledged full cooperation with investigators.

Investigation underway

Authorities immediately closed the north runway, diverting traffic to the airport’s two remaining runways. Photos taken by Reuters photographer Tyrone Siu show the jet’s tail section rising above the waterline in the pre-dawn light as emergency teams worked nearby.

The CAD said no distress signal was received before landing and that the aircraft appeared to have travelled about halfway down the runway before veering off. An official investigation is now underway, involving Emirates, Act Airlines, and Hong Kong authorities.

Safety questions raised

The crash comes barely a month after a Hong Kong Express Airbus A320-232 veered off the same runway during a typhoon, raising concerns about runway safety and wet-weather landing conditions. That incident caused no injuries and remains under review.

According to Aviation Safety Network data, Hong Kong International Airport handles over 420,000 flight movements annually and maintains one of Asia’s best safety records. But recent incidents highlight the growing stress on aviation infrastructure amid rising cargo and passenger traffic.

As families mourn the two workers who lost their lives, aviation experts say the focus must shift to ensuring stricter runway safety protocols. “Every life lost on the ground is a reminder that aviation safety doesn’t end in the sky,” said Liang Wen, an independent aviation consultant in Hong Kong. “Runway surveillance and vehicle coordination need urgent review.”

The Civil Aviation Department said updates will be shared “transparently and promptly” once initial findings are confirmed.

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