Two workers die after cargo plane accident at Hong Kong airport

Hong Kong.- Two ground crew members died early this Monday when a cargo plane from Dubai veered off the new runway at Hong Kong International Airport and collided with a service vehicle before falling into the sea. The accident was recorded around 3:50 in the morning (21:50 GMT on Sunday) and affected Emirates SkyCargo flight EK9788, operated by the Turkish airline Air ACT Cargo, with a Boeing 747-481 (BDSF) with registration TC-ACF that was coming from Al Maktoum airport (DWC) in Dubai. According to preliminary information from the Civil Aviation Department, the aircraft veered to the left during the landing run on runway 07L/25R, impacting a ground support vehicle that was dragged to the waters located north of the airport grounds. The two workers who were in the vehicle were found by the maritime rescue teams. One was declared dead at the scene and the other died shortly afterwards at North Lantau Hospital, near the airfield, according to local media. The four crew members of the cargo ship were unharmed and were transferred to medical centers for observation. Units from the Government Air Service and maritime police participated in the search and recovery efforts, while firefighters and technicians worked to stabilize the aircraft and prevent possible fuel leaks.

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The incident caused the temporary closure of the north runway, considered essential for cargo operations and long-haul flights. The Air Accidents Investigation Authority opened an investigation to clarify the causes of the accident, in which, according to initial hypotheses, a loss of directional control may have occurred after landing. Data from the specialized portal Flightradar24 showed an abrupt deviation of the plane after contact with the runway. A Cathay Pacific flight that was preparing to land immediately after had to abort the maneuver and divert to the south runway, according to aeronautical sources. The Civil Aviation Department expressed its “deep concern” about what happened and assured that it will “fully cooperate with the international authorities” in charge of the investigation. “The plane crashed on the new 07L/25R, part of the three-runway system officially inaugurated at the end of 2024,” a source from the aeronautical sector who requested anonymity told EFE. “This track began operating in 2022 and is built on land reclaimed from the sea in a project of more than $18.1 million,” he added. It is a key infrastructure to increase cargo capacity and simultaneous operations, and to consolidate Hong Kong as one of the main air hubs in Asia. Therefore, the event has caused concern throughout the industry.