A cargo plane skidded off the runway and plunged into the sea while landing at Hong Kong International Airport, killing two people, local media reported. Both victims were airport staff.
Meanwhile, all four crew members on board survived the crash. The incident was reported by British news outlet BBC on Monday (October 20).
According to the report, the Emirates flight EK9788, operated by Turkish cargo airline Air ACT, skidded off the runway into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport.
The plane arrived from Dubai at around 3:50 a.m. local time and crashed after colliding with a ground vehicle while attempting to land on the northern runway.
A statement from Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department said that two ground staff fell into the sea during the accident. They were rescued and taken to a hospital, where both were later pronounced dead, according to local media outlet RTHK citing police sources.
All four crew members aboard the aircraft survived and are being treated at a hospital. The affected runway has been closed following the accident, though the airport’s other two runways remain operational.
Airport authorities announced that they would hold a press conference at 10 a.m. local time to address the incident.
Media reports stated that helicopters from the Hong Kong Government Flying Service and rescue vessels from the Fire Services Department participated in the rescue operation. According to the airport’s official website, at least 11 cargo flights scheduled to land at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday have been canceled.
Notably, such accidents are extremely rare at Hong Kong International Airport, which has long maintained a strong safety record.
