Emirates Cargo Plane Skids Off Runway in Hong Kong, Two Killed in Ground Collision

A cargo plane flying from Dubai skidded off the runway and plunged into the sea during landing at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, leading to two fatalities. The Hong Kong airport authority confirmed that the Boeing 747 aircraft, operated by Turkish carrier ACT Airlines under Emirates flight EK9788, veered off the northern runway at around 3:50 a.m. local time (1950 GMT Sunday).

Images from the crash site showed the AirACT-liveried aircraft partially submerged near the airport’s sea wall, with its nose and tail sections separated and an emergency slide deployed. According to Hong Kong authorities, all four crew members aboard were rescued safely. However, two people in a ground vehicle near the runway were killed after being struck by the aircraft, as reported by the South China Morning Post.

Emirates stated that the freighter sustained significant damage during the landing but confirmed that there was no cargo onboard and all crew members were safe. ACT Airlines, a Turkish cargo operator that provides aircraft leasing and freight services to major airlines, has yet to issue an official comment.

The Hong Kong International Airport—the world’s busiest cargo hub—has closed its northern runway following the incident, while its south and central runways remain operational to maintain flight activity. The accident temporarily disrupted operations but did not significantly impact passenger flights.

Flight-tracking service FlightRadar24 identified the aircraft as a 32-year-old Boeing 747, originally built as a passenger jet before being converted into a cargo plane. Authorities are currently investigating the cause of the runway overrun and subsequent collision.