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View all search resultsCargo plane slides off runway in Hong Kong, killing two airport staff
The Boeing 747 involved in the deadliest airport incident in the financial hub in more than 25 years also fell into the water and was partially submerged, but all four crew members on board escaped.
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This handout photo taken and released on October 20, 2025 by Airport Authority Hong Kong shows a Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft after it hit a ground vehicle during landing on the north runway of Hong Kong's international airport and skidded into the sea, killing two. (AFP/AFP)
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wo Hong Kong airport security staff were killed early on Monday after a cargo plane from Dubai skidded off the runway on landing, collided with their security patrol vehicle and pushed it into the sea, the city's airport operator said.
The Boeing 747 involved in the deadliest airport incident in the financial hub in more than 25 years also fell into the water and was partially submerged, but all four crew members on board escaped.
The airport security staff were not breathing when rescued from the water, with one confirmed dead at the scene and another later at hospital, said Steven Yiu, executive director of airport operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong.
The accident at the world's busiest cargo airport involved a plane operated by Turkish freight carrier ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates, the Dubai-based airline said in a statement.
Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the crash, with weather, runway conditions, the aircraft and aircrew part of the investigation, Yiu said.
The accident occurred around 3:50 a.m. Hong Kong time on Monday (1950 GMT on Sunday).
An air traffic control recording available on LiveATC.net reviewed by Reuters indicated the cargo plane's pilot confirmed plans to land on runway 07L where the crash occurred, but he did not report any technical issues on the recording.
"An incident happened at the airfield just now," a female controller said minutes later.
Man Ka-chai, chief accident and safety investigator for Hong Kong's Air Accident Investigation Authority, confirmed air traffic control had directed the flight to land at the north runway, but added: "We didn't receive any message requesting help from the pilot."
Yiu said the security patrol car was in charge of patrolling the north runway along a road that was outside the runway fence. It was operating in its usual area and "definitely didn't rush onto the runway," he said.
The airplane suddenly veered left after landing on the runway before hitting the car, which "wasn't a normal path", he said.
The accident left the aircraft's nose resting above water with its tail broken off.
The plane struck a ground vehicle, which also fell into the sea, authorities said.
The airport's north runway was temporarily closed on Monday, while the other two runways remained operational.
