Cargo plane slides off runway in Hong Kong, killing two airport staff

Cargo plane partially in sea after runway incident at Hong Kong Airport, Oct 20, 2025.
Reuters

Two Hong Kong airport security staff were killed early on Monday after a cargo plane from Dubai skidded off the runway on landing, collided with their security patrol vehicle and pushed it into the sea.

The Boeing 747 involved in the deadliest airport incident in the financial hub in more than 25 years also fell into the water and was partially submerged, but all four crew members on board escaped.

Airport security staff were rescued unresponsive, with one dead at the scene and another later at the hospital, said Steven Yiu, executive director of airport operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong. 

The accident at the world's busiest cargo airport involved a plane operated by Turkish freight carrier ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates, the Dubai-based airline said in a statement.

Authorities are still investigating the exact cause of the crash, with weather, runway conditions, the aircraft and aircrew part of the investigation, Yiu said.

Man Ka-chai, chief accident and safety investigator for Hong Kong's Air Accident Investigation Authority, confirmed air traffic control had directed the flight to land at the north runway, but added: "We didn't receive any message requesting help from the pilot."

Yiu said the security patrol car was in charge of patrolling the north runway along a road that was outside the runway fence.

It was operating in its usual area and "definitely didn't rush onto the runway," he said.

The airplane suddenly veered left after landing on the runway before hitting the car, which "wasn't a normal path", he said.

Tags