Cargo plane skids off runway into sea at Hong Kong Airport

ISLAMABAD: A cargo plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and plunged into the sea.

Two ground crew members lost their lives in the accident, while all four crew members survived.

Emirates Airlines flight EK9788, which was arriving from Dubai to Hong Kong, veered off the runway during landing at 3:50 am local time, officials said, crashing into a patrol car while on patrol.

The aircraft, a Boeing 747-481, broke into two parts, one of which fell into the sea.

The crew members managed to exit the plane. They broke open the emergency exit and were rescued from the sea.

Two security guards, aged 30 and 41, were killed in the accident. Their patrol car fell into the sea after being hit by the plane.

The plane did not send a distress signal when it landed.

Airport situation

The northern part of the runway was immediately closed after the accident. It will only be reopened once it is declared safe.

Hong Kong Airport’s other two runways (south and central) are functional, and overall airport operations will not be affected.

Airport authorities are working with Emirates Airlines to remove the plane’s wreckage from the sea.

An investigation into the accident has been launched. Experts are trying to find the plane’s black boxes in the sea.

Police have not ruled out that criminal aspects will also be taken into account during the investigation of the incident.

It should be noted that this accident is the second fatal incident in the history of the current Hong Kong International Airport since 1998.