An Emirates cargo plane operated by Turkish carrier AirACT slid off the north runway at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday morning, reportedly colliding with a ground vehicle before partially plunging into the sea, police said.
The incident occurred around 04:40, when Emirates flight EK9788 — a Boeing 747 freighter operated by AirACT — veered off the runway while landing from Dubai. Police believe the aircraft struck a ground service vehicle during the landing, causing both the plane and the vehicle to end up partly in the waters beyond the runway’s northern perimeter.
Two men in the vehicle were initially reported missing. Authorities later confirmed that both had died after being struck by the aircraft.
All four crew members aboard the Emirates flight escaped unharmed.
The airport’s north runway has been temporarily closed as recovery operations continue. Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service has deployed helicopters to assist with search and rescue efforts.
New footage of the Air ACT 747 that ran off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport this morning. pic.twitter.com/3tHlBwruwu
— OSINTtechnical (@Osinttechnical) October 20, 2025