A Boeing 747 cargo plane arriving from Dubai skidded off the north runway at Hong Kong International Airport and plunged into the sea in the early hours of Monday, October 20, 2025.
The flight, Emirates SkyCargo EK9788, was operated by Turkish carrier Air ACT and was not carrying any freight at the time. While all four Turkish crew members survived and were rescued from the partially submerged fuselage, the accident tragically claimed the lives of two airport security staff members on the ground.
The incident occurred at approximately 03:53 local time during the aircraft’s landing rollout. According to preliminary reports from the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA), the plane suddenly veered left off the runway as it decelerated to about 90 knots, crashing through a perimeter fence, and hitting a security patrol vehicle.
The impact pushed the patrol car into the sea. The two occupants, aged 30 and 41 with a combined 19 years of experience, were pulled from the water by divers. One was pronounced dead at the scene, and the other died later at North Lantau Hospital.
Investigators identified an “abnormal acceleration” in the number four engine as a key factor. While the other three engines were in reverse thrust to slow the plane, the fourth engine reportedly spooled up to over 100% forward thrust, causing the airframe to swerve uncontrollably.
The Airport Authority stressed that the security vehicle was positioned in full compliance with international safety standards and was outside the active runway area when it was struck. The crash resulted in the cancellation of at least 11 cargo flights on Monday, though passenger operations remained largely unaffected as the airport’s other two runways continued to operate.
This tragedy marks the first fatal aviation incident at Hong Kong International Airport since the crash of China Airlines Flight 642 in 1999. Authorities are currently working to retrieve the flight data and cockpit voice recorders (black boxes) from the tail section of the wreckage, which remains partially submerged near the northern seawall.
