A tragic incident unfolded at Hong Kong International Airport when an aircraft skidded off the runway and plunged into the sea. Regrettably, two individuals lost their lives, while emergency services managed to rescue four crew members.
According to an Emirates spokesperson, the aircraft involved, identified as EK9788, experienced damage upon landing in Hong Kong on October 20, 2025. The cargo plane, a Boeing 747-400 with registration TC-ACF, was leased from Act Airlines, and thankfully, the crew members were unharmed, and there was no cargo onboard.
The fatal event occurred as the Emirates flight EK9788, arriving from Dubai, was making its landing attempt around 3:50 am local time on Monday, October 20. The airport authority in Hong Kong reported that the cargo aircraft deviated off course during the landing, crashing through fencing and colliding with an airport security patrol car outside the runway, resulting in the tragic deaths of two ground staff members.
The four crew members on board at the time were swiftly rescued by the Fire Service Department. Steven Yiu, the executive director of airport operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong, expressed deep sorrow over the incident and extended condolences to the families, assuring them of necessary support.
Emergency services responded promptly, with 213 firefighters and first aid officers, along with 45 vehicles and ships, rushing to the scene. The Fire Service Department reached the location within two minutes of receiving the report at 03:55 local time.
Man Ka-chai, the chief accident and safety investigator at Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority, mentioned that no distress call was received from the pilot. The aircraft, a Boeing 747-481 (BDSF), more than 30 years old, had a history of service with various airlines before being operated as Emirates SkyCargo Flight 9788 on the day of the accident.
The Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority has initiated an investigation into the incident involving the B744 cargo aircraft. The investigation aims to determine the circumstances and causes of the accident to prevent future occurrences, as per a statement issued on their website.
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