Hong Kong: Freighter Skids Off Runway Into Sea
Two ground workers were tragically killed when a cargo aircraft overshot the runway and plunged into the sea during an early morning landing at Hong Kong International Airport on Monday.
Emirates flight EK9788, a Boeing 747 freighter arriving from Dubai, reportedly lost control while attempting to land at about 3:50 a.m. local time. The aircraft failed to stop before the end of the north runway—one of Asia’s busiest—and came to rest partially submerged in nearby waters.
During the incident, the plane struck an airport ground service vehicle, shearing off one of its wheels and sending the vehicle into the sea. Both ground crew members inside were later confirmed dead.
Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department said the cargo jet had “deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea.”
A large-scale emergency response followed, involving 213 firefighters and paramedics, 45 emergency vehicles, several rescue vessels, and a Government Flying Service helicopter. The plane’s four crew members escaped and were rescued from the water.
Airport officials said passenger flight operations were unaffected, though at least 12 cargo flights were cancelled as investigations continue into the cause of the crash.
