A cargo aircraft operated by Turkish carrier Air ACT on behalf of Emirates skidded off the runway and into the sea while landing at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, killing two airport security staff on the ground.
According to airport authorities, the Boeing 747-400 freighter, registered as TC-ACF, collided with a security patrol vehicle during the incident, pushing it into the sea and resulting in the deaths of the two staff members. All four crew members on board were rescued and taken to hospital with minor injuries.
“The aircraft, a Boeing 747-400 with registration TC-ACF, was not carrying cargo at the time of the incident. All four crew members onboard have been confirmed safe and are receiving medical attention,” Emirates said in a statement. “Emirates extends our condolences to the families and colleagues of the two airport employees who lost their lives on the ground.”
The aircraft was operating flight EK9788 from Dubai to Hong Kong when it veered off the north runway upon landing, according to the Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department (CAD). “The aircraft deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea,” the department said, confirming that an investigation has been launched into the cause of the crash.
Images shared on social media showed the aircraft partially submerged near the airport’s sea wall, with its fuselage split and an emergency slide deployed. The front and tail sections of the plane appeared separated due to the impact.
In a separate statement, Air ACT confirmed the incident and said the cause remained under investigation. “During flight EK9788 from Dubai to Hong Kong, our Boeing 747 freighter aircraft veered off the runway for reasons yet to be determined and came to rest near the sea,” the Turkish company said. “Unfortunately, the aircraft collided with a ground service vehicle, resulting in the loss of two lives.”
Despite the accident, operations at Hong Kong International Airport continued without disruption on Monday. Emergency services and aviation authorities were quick to respond, and recovery efforts for the aircraft were underway.
Air ACT, also known as MyCargo Airlines, is a Turkish carrier that operates freighter services for global airlines, including Emirates SkyCargo. The 32-year-old aircraft involved had previously served as a passenger jet before being converted into a cargo plane, according to flight-tracking platform FlightRadar24.
Both Emirates and Air ACT said they are cooperating fully with investigators. The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department is expected to issue a preliminary report in the coming weeks as part of its ongoing probe into the cause of the accident.
