Hong Kong—A serious aviation accident unfolded at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) in the early hours of Monday, when a landing cargo aeroplane veered off the runway, crashing into a security patrol vehicle and tragically killing the two officers inside.
The freighter, Emirates flight EK9788, operated by the Turkish cargo airline Air ACT, was approaching the North Runway at approximately 03:50 local time (19:50 GMT). Upon touching down, the Boeing 747 failed to maintain its course, careening through the perimeter fence and colliding with an airport patrol car positioned nearby. The force of the impact pushed the vehicle directly into the adjacent sea.
The two security personnel aboard the patrol car, aged 30 and 41, succumbed to the incident’s trauma.
Eyewitness reports and officials confirmed that the Boeing 747, an aircraft over three decades old and converted from a passenger jet into a freighter, suffered catastrophic damage. Its body broke in half after the immense momentum propelled it into the waters.
Despite the shocking scale of the collision, the four crew members aboard the aircraft were successfully rescued and transferred to a local hospital, where Emirates confirmed they were safe. Crucially, the airline also stipulated that there was no cargo onboard at the time of the incident.
Emirates clarified the operational arrangement, stating the aeroplane was on a wet lease from Air ACT—a commercial arrangement where the lessor provides the aircraft, flight crew, and all necessary maintenance to the lessee.
Hong Kong authorities have commenced a full-scale investigation into the circumstances that led to the crash. Officials have confirmed that the weather conditions were favourable at the time, and the flight had been given correct landing instructions. Furthermore, the cockpit crew did not transmit any distress signals before the jet left the runway.
As the investigation into the runway excursion continues, authorities have announced they have not ruled out the possibility of a criminal probe.
This tragedy marks only the second fatal incident at HKIA, the world’s busiest cargo airport, since it commenced operations in 1998. The only preceding fatal crash occurred in 1999, when three individuals died after a China Airlines aeroplane crash-landed during a powerful typhoon.
