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Two airport security officers were killed in Hong Kong early Monday when a cargo jet coming from Dubai veered off the runway during landing and collided with a patrol vehicle, officials said.
Both the car and the Boeing 747 – the worst crash at Hong Kong’s airport in decades – plunged into the sea, although all four crew members on board managed to escape safely, authorities said.
The Dubai-based airline said the accident occurred at Hong Kong International Airport, the world’s busiest cargo hub, and involved a plane operated by Turkish cargo carrier ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates.
The Hong Kong Airport Authority said the cargo flight, UAE 9788, “is suspected to have lost control while landing and veered off the north runway”, before it “collided with a fence and fell into the sea.”
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On October 20, 2025, a Boeing 747-400 cargo plane skidded off the runway and fell into the sea. (Daniel Senge/Anadolu)
“At the time of the runway excursion, a patrol car of Aviation Security Company Limited was patrolling the perimeter road outside the runway area along with two airport security staff,” the authority said. “Patrol car plunges into water after collision with plane.”
Images taken after the crash showed a cargo jet with AirACT markings partially submerged near the airport’s sea wall, with an emergency slide deployed and parts of its nose and tail torn off. Emirates told Fox News Digital that there was no cargo on board the flight at the time of the incident.
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Rescue workers look at the wreckage of an AirACT cargo plane operated for Emirates Airline near the runway at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Leung Man Hei/Bloomberg)
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ACT Airlines said in a statement, “Unfortunately, we have been informed that the aircraft collided with a ground service vehicle, resulting in the loss of two lives. We express our deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of those who lost their lives.”
The airport authority said both airport security staff were unresponsive when they were pulled out of the water. One was reportedly declared dead at the scene and the other died later in hospital. At the time of the incident, two airport security staff were keeping watch at a designated observation post as per established procedures, officials said, adding that both employees had worked at the airport for seven and 12 years respectively.
Wreckage of an AirACT cargo plane operated for Emirates Airline near the runway of Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Leung Man Hei/Bloomberg)
“All four crew members on board have been confirmed to be in good health,” ACT Airlines said. Emirates said the crew members were receiving medical attention and expressed its “condolences to the families and colleagues of the two airport staff who lost their lives on the ground.”
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Hong Kong’s chief accident and safety investigator, Man Ka-chai, told Reuters that air traffic controllers had instructed the flight to land on the north runway, but no distress call had been received from the pilot.
Officials are investigating the cause of the accident. ACT Airlines said it was cooperating fully with the investigation, while Emirates said it stood ready to assist if needed.
According to the Aviation Safety Network database, the incident is Hong Kong’s deadliest airport accident since 1999, when a China Airlines jet crashed on landing, killing three of the 315 people on board.
Reuters contributed to this report.
