Aircraft plunges into water following early-morning landing
A deadly accident at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday claimed the lives of two ground staff members after a Boeing 747 freighter careened off a runway and into the sea. The cargo plane, flown by Turkey-based ACT Airlines for Emirates SkyCargo, was completing a flight from Dubai when it lost control on touchdown around 3:50 a.m. local time. The aircraft smashed through a boundary fence, struck a patrol vehicle, and came to rest partly submerged. All four crew members survived with minor injuries and were treated at a nearby hospital.
Investigators focus on technical malfunction
Authorities have launched an extensive investigation to determine what caused the crash. The Air Accident Investigation Authority confirmed that both the flight data and voice recorders were recovered and are being examined. With clear weather reported at the time, officials are concentrating on possible mechanical faults involving the aircraft’s brakes or steering systems. The affected runway has been temporarily closed while engineers assess the damage and crews work to remove debris.
Airport operations largely unaffected
Despite the runway closure, most passenger flights continued as scheduled, using the airport’s two other runways. The Civil Aviation Department offered condolences to the families of the two victims and pledged a comprehensive review of safety protocols for airfield staff. The incident, one of the most serious at Hong Kong’s airport in recent years, has renewed concerns about ground safety and emergency preparedness at one of the world’s busiest aviation hubs.
