A cargo jet arriving from Dubai veered off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, striking a security patrol car before plunging into the sea, killing two men in the vehicle, authorities confirmed.
The Boeing aircraft, reportedly operating under Emirates on a temporary lease from Turkish carrier Act Airlines, had been attempting to land on the airport’s north runway around 4 a.m. local time (2000 GMT Sunday) when it suddenly lost control. Airport officials said the plane broke through the perimeter fence and came to rest partially submerged in shallow waters bordering the airfield.
“The aircraft went off the north runway upon landing, crashed through the fence and into the sea,” said Steven Yiu, Executive Director of Airport Operations at the Airport Authority Hong Kong. He added that the weather and runway conditions had been “safe and fully compliant” at the time of the incident.
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A preliminary diagram released by airport authorities showed the aircraft veering sharply left midway along the runway before impact. The plane did not issue any distress call and reportedly failed to respond to radio communications during the landing attempt.
The collision destroyed a nearby airport security patrol vehicle, which was stationed outside the fenced area. Rescue divers retrieved the bodies of two men — aged 30 and 41 — from the submerged car, located roughly five metres (16 feet) offshore. One was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other succumbed to his injuries in hospital.
Emirates confirmed that the plane’s crew escaped unharmed and that there was no cargo onboard at the time of the crash.
Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority has launched a full-scale probe to determine the cause, while the Transport and Logistics Bureau said it was “deeply concerned” and pledged transparency in the inquiry. Police have not ruled out the possibility of a criminal investigation.
The airport temporarily shut down its north runway following the crash, though two other runways remained operational. Officials said flight schedules were largely unaffected.
The incident marks one of the most serious accidents since Hong Kong International Airport opened in 1998. The hub — among the world’s busiest cargo airports — only recently completed an HK$142 billion ($18 billion) expansion, adding a third runway last year to bolster its position as Asia’s premier aviation gateway.