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Two airport safety officers in Hong Kong had been killed early Monday after a cargo jet arriving from Dubai veered off the runway throughout touchdown and slammed right into a patrol automobile, authorities mentioned.
Each the automobile and the Boeing 747 – in what was Hong Kong’s worst airport catastrophe in a long time – plunged into the ocean, although all 4 crew members on board managed to flee unhurt, officers mentioned.
The crash occurred at Hong Kong International Airport, the world’s busiest cargo hub, and concerned a airplane operated by Turkish freight provider ACT Airways on behalf of Emirates, the Dubai-based airline mentioned.
The Hong Kong Airport Authority mentioned the cargo flight, UAE9788, “was suspected to have misplaced management upon touchdown and veered off the North Runway” earlier than it “crashed via the fence into the ocean.”
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A Boeing 747-400 cargo plane is seen after it skidded off the runway into the ocean on Oct. 20, 2025. (Daniel Ceng/Anadolu)
“On the time of the runway tour, a patrol automobile from the Aviation Safety Firm Restricted with two airport safety employees was finishing up patrolling responsibility on the perimeter street outdoors the runway zone,” the authority mentioned. “The patrol automobile fell into the waters after being hit by the plane.”
Photos taken after the crash confirmed a cargo jet bearing AirACT markings partially submerged close to the airport’s seawall, with an emergency slide deployed and its nostril and tail sections torn aside. Emirates advised Fox Information Digital that the flight was not carrying cargo on the time of the incident.

Rescue employees on the wreckage of an AirACT cargo plane operated for Emirates Airline close to the runway at Hong Kong Worldwide Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Leung Man Hei/Bloomberg)
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ACT Airlines mentioned in an announcement: “Sadly, we’ve got been knowledgeable that the plane collided with a floor companies automobile, leading to lack of two lives. We lengthen our deepest condolences to the households and family members of those that misplaced their lives.”
The 2 airport safety employees had been unresponsive when pulled from the water, the airport authority mentioned. One was reportedly pronounced useless on the scene, and the opposite died later at a hospital. On the time of the incident, the 2 airport safety employees had been conserving watch at a delegated commentary submit in accordance with established procedures, officers mentioned, including that the 2 employees members had labored on the airport for seven and 12 years respectively.

The wreckage of an AirACT cargo plane operated for Emirates Airline close to the runway at Hong Kong Worldwide Airport in Hong Kong, China, on Monday, Oct. 20, 2025. (Leung Man Hei/Bloomberg)
“All 4 crew members on board have been confirmed to be in good well being,” ACT Airways mentioned. Emirates added that the crew members had been receiving medical consideration and expressed condolences “to the households and colleagues of the 2 airport staff who misplaced their lives on the bottom.”
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Man Ka-chai, Hong Kong’s chief accident and security investigator, advised Reuters that air site visitors controllers had directed the flight to land on the north runway however had obtained no misery name from the pilot.
Authorities are investigating the reason for the crash. ACT Airways mentioned it’s cooperating absolutely with the probe, whereas Emirates added it stays prepared to help as wanted.
The incident marks Hong Kong’s deadliest airport accident since 1999, when a China Airways jet crashed on touchdown, killing three of the 315 individuals on board, in keeping with the Aviation Security Community database.
Reuters contributed to this report.