A tragic incident unfolded at Hong Kong International Airport as a plane skidded off the runway and crashed into the sea, resulting in the loss of two lives. The emergency services managed to rescue four crew members from the aircraft.
The plane involved in the accident was an Emirates cargo aircraft, flight EK9788, wet leased from Act Airlines. The aircraft, a Boeing 747-400 with registration TC-ACF, landed in Hong Kong from Dubai. Fortunately, all crew members were safe, and there was no cargo onboard.
During the landing attempt on October 20, 2025, at around 3:50 am local time, the Emirates flight veered off course, leading to the tragic crash. The cargo plane breached the airport perimeter fencing and collided with an airport security patrol car, causing it to plunge into the sea, resulting in the deaths of two ground staff members.
The Fire Service Department promptly rescued the four crew members from the aircraft. Steven Yiu, the executive director of airport operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong, expressed deep sadness over the incident, offering condolences to the affected families and ensuring support and assistance.
Following the crash, 213 firefighters and first aid officers, along with 45 vehicles and ships, responded swiftly to the scene. The chief accident and safety investigator for Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority mentioned that no distress call was received from the pilot before the crash.
The aircraft involved, a Boeing 747-481 (BDSF), had been in service for over 30 years, initially operating as a passenger plane before being converted into a freighter. The Air Accident Investigation Authority has initiated an investigation into the accident, focusing on determining the circumstances and causes to prevent similar incidents in the future.