A Boeing 747 cargo aircraft operating for Emirates skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday, October 20, after colliding with an airport security vehicle, resulting in the deaths of two ground personnel. This marks the deadliest aviation accident in Hong Kong in a quarter-century.
The incident involved Emirates flight EK9788, which originated in Dubai but was wet-leased from Turkey’s ACT Airlines. The jet landed at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time.
While the four crew members on board the aircraft were unharmed, the two security personnel in the vehicle were rescued from the scene. Tragically, one was found not breathing and the other was declared deceased.
The official inquiry is now focusing on why the aircraft veered off its intended path. Authorities confirmed that the pilot did not report any technical issues and had not requested emergency assistance prior to landing on the designated north runway.
Steven Yiu, Executive Director of Airport Operations, stated that the aircraft “unexpectedly departed the landing runway and struck the car, which was not a normal path.” He explicitly verified that the security patrol car was conducting a routine patrol on a road outside the runway fence and “certainly did not rush onto the runway.”
These details are directing the investigation toward potential causes, including the aircraft’s handling during the landing, runway conditions, and external factors such as the weather.
The incident has also drawn attention to the age of the aircraft involved. Flight tracking data indicates the jet is 32 years old and was originally configured as a passenger plane.
A section of the north runway was closed for inspection, but flight operations at the world’s busiest cargo airport continued with minimal disruption using the two other runways. This crash is the most severe accident to occur at Hong Kong’s airport since 1999.
