Two airport security personnel were killed early Monday when a cargo plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport, collided with their vehicle, and plunged into the sea, in one of the most serious incidents at the facility in over two decades.
The accident occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time on October 20, 2025, as Emirates flight EK9788, a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft arriving from Dubai, attempted to land on the north runway. Instead of staying on course, the plane veered sharply to the left, crashing through perimeter fencing and striking a security patrol car that was operating on a road outside the runway area. The impact pushed both the aircraft and the vehicle into the adjacent sea, triggering an immediate emergency response involving over 200 rescue personnel.
Airport officials reported that the plane did not transmit any distress signals prior to the incident and failed to respond to radio communications from air traffic control. Initial assessments by the Airport Authority indicated that weather and runway conditions were within safe operational parameters at the time. Steven Yiu, executive director of airport operations, clarified that the security vehicle was “absolutely not near the runway” and was conducting routine patrols at a designated safe distance when it was hit.
Divers located the sunken patrol car in waters about seven meters deep and five meters from the shoreline, retrieving the two occupants after approximately 40 minutes. The victims, aged 30 and 41, had seven and twelve years of experience respectively with the airport authority. The younger man was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other succumbed to injuries after being transported to a hospital. Neither was breathing when recovered from the vehicle.
The four crew members aboard the cargo plane managed to evacuate by opening emergency doors and were rescued within minutes by first responders. Emirates confirmed that the aircraft was wet-leased from Turkish company ACT Airlines and carried no cargo, with the crew reported safe. Photographs from the site showed the plane’s fuselage broken in half and partially submerged, with visible cracks and deployed evacuation slides.
An investigation led by the Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority is underway, focusing on potential causes such as mechanical failure, human error, or environmental factors. Authorities are attempting to recover the flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder from the seabed to aid the probe. Police have stated that a criminal investigation has not been ruled out, adding another layer to the inquiry into why the plane turned unexpectedly during landing.
The closure of the north runway has led to the cancellation of at least eleven cargo flights, though passenger operations continue on the two remaining runways with minimal disruption. This incident marks the second deadliest at Hong Kong International Airport since its opening in 1998, following a 1999 crash during a typhoon that killed three people. The event has raised concerns about aviation safety in the region and prompted reviews of emergency protocols and runway design, with implications for one of the world’s busiest cargo hubs.