A cargo aircraft operated by ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo veered off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport in the early hours of Monday, crashing through a perimeter fence and partially plunging into the sea. The incident resulted in the deaths of two airport security workers and raised serious questions about runway safety and ground operations.
The aircraft, a Boeing 747-400BDSF registered TC-ACF, had arrived from Dubai World Central (Al Maktoum International Airport) as Flight EK9788. The landing occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time, during nighttime conditions with light rain reported in the area.
After touching down on the north runway, the aircraft failed to slow down as expected and veered off the tarmac, breaking through the airport’s perimeter fence. In the process, it struck a security patrol vehicle on a service road just outside the runway. The vehicle was crushed, and its two occupants, both members of the airport’s ground security team, were pronounced dead at the scene.
The aircraft came to a rest with its nose and forward fuselage submerged in shallow coastal waters, while the tail and wings remained on solid ground. Emergency services responded swiftly, and all four crew members on board the aircraft were rescued with minor injuries.
Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department (CAD) has launched a full investigation into the incident, working closely with the Transportation Safety Board and representatives from Boeing, ACT Airlines, and Emirates.
