HONG KONG — A Boeing 747 freighter veered off course during landing at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, plunging into the adjacent waters and resulting in the deaths of two ground personnel, authorities confirmed.
The incident unfolded at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time (7:50 p.m. GMT Sunday) as the aircraft, operating Emirates flight EK9788 from Dubai, attempted to touch down on the facility’s north runway. Operated by Turkish carrier ACT Airlines under a wet-lease agreement with Emirates, the 32-year-old plane—previously a passenger jet before conversion to cargo use—struck a nearby ground vehicle before breaching the sea wall and partially submerging.
Images circulating from the scene depicted the AirACT-branded aircraft with its escape slide extended, the fuselage fractured at the nose and tail sections, and much of the body resting in shallow waters close to the shore.
Hong Kong International Airport, recognized as the globe’s most trafficked cargo gateway, announced the immediate closure of the north runway following the mishap. Operations on the south and central runways proceeded without interruption to minimize disruptions.
The four-member flight crew emerged unharmed, according to an official statement from the airport operator. However, two individuals in the impacted ground vehicle were killed after tumbling into the sea, as reported by the South China Morning Post citing police sources. A police spokesperson did not immediately address inquiries.
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Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department elaborated in a Monday release that the plane “deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea.” The department noted that “two ground staff were affected and fell into the sea, and their conditions are pending confirmation,” while committing the matter to the city’s Air Accident Investigation Authority for a thorough probe.
Emirates, in its own communiqué, verified that the crew remained safe and emphasized that the flight carried no cargo at the time. ACT Airlines, which specializes in supplemental freight services for international carriers, had yet to issue a response during off-hours.
Flight tracking platform FlightRadar24 identified the involved jet’s age and prior service history. The Civil Aviation Department pledged full cooperation with investigators to ascertain the causes.
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