At least two people have died after a cargo plane veered off a runway, struck a vehicle, and plunged into the ocean near Hong Kong International Airport early Monday morning.
The Emirates Boeing 747 — operating as Aerotranscargo flight EK9788 — was arriving from Dubai around 4 a.m. local time on Oct. 20 when the accident occurred, according to ABC News, Reuters, and the BBC, which cited airport officials.
Authorities said the aircraft collided with a car on the runway, sending both the vehicle and the plane into the sea. Two ground workers in the car were killed — one at the scene and the other later at a nearby hospital.
Four crew members aboard the aircraft survived and were transported to a local hospital for treatment, per the reports. Investigators believe the crash occurred after the plane veered off the runway during landing.
Photos from the scene show the aircraft partially submerged near the airport’s sea wall, its inflatable evacuation slide deployed. The jet’s nose and tail sections appear separated following the impact.
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Emirates confirmed to Reuters that the plane was leased from and operated by ACT Airlines, a Turkish cargo carrier that provides additional freight capacity to other airlines.
“Crew are confirmed to be safe and there was no cargo onboard,” the airline said in a statement to Reuters.
Flight data reviewed by Reuters indicated the aircraft was 32 years old and had previously served as a passenger jet.
Local media reported that Hong Kong’s Government Flying Service dispatched helicopters over the affected runway, while the Fire Services Department deployed vessels for rescue efforts.
Investigators have not yet determined what caused the aircraft to lose control. The BBC noted that such incidents are rare at Hong Kong International Airport, which has a strong safety record.
