Emirates cargo plane crashes during landing in Hong Kong

HONG KONG: A tragic incident unfolded in the early hours of Monday morning when a cargo plane arriving from Dubai crash-landed at Hong Kong International Airport, veering off the runway and plunging into the sea. Two ground personnel were confirmed dead following the accident.

The aircraft, operating as Emirates SkyCargo flight EK9788 and flown by Turkish carrier AirACT, was attempting to land at approximately 3:50 AM local time when it lost control on the newly opened third runway. According to airport authorities, the Boeing 747 freighter broke through perimeter fencing and struck an airport patrol vehicle, pushing it into the water.

The collision claimed the lives of two members of the airport’s ground staff who were inside the patrol car at the time. The four crew members on board the plane were rescued from the aircraft, with no immediate reports of injuries among them.

MASSIVE EMERGENCY RESPONSE

Hong Kong Fire Services reported that a rapid response was initiated within two minutes of the crash, deploying 213 personnel and 45 emergency vehicles and marine vessels. Firefighters and medics worked swiftly to secure the scene and recover those affected.

Steven Yiu Siu-Chung, Executive Director of Airport Operations, said during a press briefing that weather conditions were favorable at the time of landing. He confirmed that airport operations were not broadly impacted, though the north runway has been temporarily shut down. Flights continue using the central and southern runways.

RARE ACCIDENT IN AIRCRAFT HISTORY

Data from aircraft tracking service Airfleets reveals that the plane involved was a 32-year-old Boeing 747-481 BDSF, originally built as a passenger aircraft in 1993 before being converted for cargo use. Over its lifespan, the aircraft served with several carriers, including Japan’s ANA and Saudi Arabian Airlines.

This marks only the second fatal accident at the current Chek Lap Kok airport since it opened in 1998, replacing the old Kai Tak facility. The previous deadly incident occurred in 1999, when a China Airlines flight crash-landed during a typhoon, resulting in three fatalities.

Authorities are continuing their investigation into the exact cause of the crash, while recovery operations remain underway near the affected runway.