Watch: Two dead as Emirates SkyCargo 747 skids off Hong Kong Runway into sea
Investigators probing mechanical failure and runway conditions after fatal crash
DUBAI – At least two people were killed early Monday after an Emirates SkyCargo aircraft wet-leased from Turkey’s ACT Airlines overshot the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and plunged into the sea.
The Boeing 747-400 freighter, operating flight EK9788 from Dubai, crashed around 3.50am (Hong Kong time), striking a ground-service vehicle before coming to rest partially submerged beyond the sea wall.
Authorities confirmed that four crew members on board the aircraft were rescued by airport emergency teams and treated for minor injuries. Police said two ground staff in the struck vehicle – aged 30 and 41 – were pulled from the water, but both succumbed to their injuries.
????BREAKING: A Boeing 747-481 (registration TC-ACF), operating Emirates Flight EK9788 from Dubai, veered off the runway after landing at Hong Kong International Airport.
— AirNav Radar (@AirNavRadar) October 19, 2025
The aircraft reportedly collided with a ground service vehicle, dragging it into the water. While the crew… pic.twitter.com/JYlGItENws
Scene at Hong Kong airport
Images from the site showed the aircraft’s fuselage fractured near the tail and its escape slides deployed as rescue boats surrounded the wreckage off Lantau Island.
#BREAKING: AIR ACT BOEING 747 CARGO PLANE OVERRUNS RUNWAY AND PLUNGES INTO SEA AT HONG KONG AIRPORT
— Turbine Traveller (@Turbinetraveler) October 20, 2025
Fresh video footage has captured the dramatic moment an Air ACT Boeing 747-481 freighter, operating as Emirates SkyCargo flight EK9788 from Dubai, skidded off Hong Kong’s northern… pic.twitter.com/cjE5HnMwGu
The Hong Kong Civil Aviation Department said the aircraft “deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea.”
Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) immediately closed the north runway to allow rescue and recovery operations. While twelve cargo flights were cancelled, passenger services continued through the airport’s remaining two runways.
Emirates confirmed that the aircraft involved, registration TC-ACF, was operated by ACT Airlines under a wet-lease agreement. “Crew are confirmed to be safe and there was no cargo onboard,” the Dubai-based carrier said.
The 32-year-old Boeing 747 had previously served as a passenger jet before its conversion to a freighter, according to FlightRadar24.
Investigation underway
Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) has launched a full inquiry into the accident, categorising it as a major runway excursion. Investigators are examining flight data, cockpit recordings and runway conditions, as well as potential mechanical or braking failures. The crash – one of the city’s most serious in recent years – has reignited concerns about night-time cargo operations at the busy air hub built on reclaimed land.
Emirates SkyCargo and ACT Airlines have pledged full cooperation with investigators as the north runway remains closed pending safety inspections.