Two Hong Kong airport security staff were killed when a cargo plane skidded off a runway, hit their patrol vehicle and ploughed into the sea.
Emirates flight EK9788 was arriving from Dubai at about 03:50 local time on Monday (19:50 GMT on Sunday) when it veered off the runway, crashing through perimeter fencing and colliding with the vehicle, pushing it into the water.
The two people inside the patrol vehicle died. The Boeing 747 ended up partly submerged, but its four crew members survived.
Officials are investigating the cause of the crash on the north runway, where two other runways remain operational. This incident marks one of the deadliest aviation occurrences at Hong Kong International Airport, known for its stringent safety record.
The investigation will focus on the path taken by the aircraft upon landing, with airport officials stating that proper instructions and signage were provided. Notably, the plane did not send out a distress signal while landing.
Both victims were experienced ground staff aged 30 and 41, with 7 and 12 years on the job, respectively. The transport bureau expressed condolences to their families.
Pictures from the scene revealed significant damage to the aircraft, which broke in half, with a section submerged in the sea and emergency slides deployed successfully. Divers located the bodies, trapped in the vehicle five meters from shore.
A police official indicated that criminal investigations may be launched. Authorities continue to search for the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, known as black boxes, from the wreckage.
The affected runway will remain closed, and many flights scheduled for arrival at the airport have already been canceled.
This incident is the second-ever deadly occurrence at Hong Kong International Airport since its opening in 1998, the first being a crash landing during a typhoon in August 1999 that claimed three lives.
