In a tragic aviation incident at the world’s busiest cargo airport, two airport security personnel lost their lives early Monday, October 20, when a cargo plane pushed their patrol vehicle into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport.
The Emirates-operated Boeing 747 freighter, leased from Turkish carrier Air ACT, crashed through a perimeter fence after landing on the north runway, marking a rare fatal mishap at this key global air cargo centre.
The accident occurred at around 3.50am local time (20.50 CET) involving flight EK9788, a converted passenger plane over 30 years old. Eyewitness accounts and official reports describe the aircraft veering sharply off Runway 07L, colliding with the stationary patrol car outside the secured perimeter, and ultimately breaking apart as it plunged into adjacent waters. The two victims, aged 30 and 41, were confirmed dead at the scene, leading to condolences from Hong Kong’s Transport and Logistics Bureau (TLB), which expressed “deep concern” and pledged a thorough probe into the cargo plane crash causes.
All four crew members aboard the Boeing 747 were rescued unharmed and hospitalised for checks, with Emirates confirming that they are “safe” and no cargo was onboard. With investigations already underway at Hong Kong International Airport, a logistics hub that handled 4.9 million metric tonnes of freight in 2024 according to Airports Council International (ACI) data – authorities stress the facility’s safety record, especially in its role as a gateway for electronics, pharmaceuticals, and fast fashion from Shenzhen‘s manufacturing belt.
Cargo plane crash path mapped: Boeing 747’s fatal veer at world’s busiest cargo airport
The Boeing 747 touched down without any distress signals but inexplicably failed to follow exit signs on Runway 07L, breached the fence and propelled the security patrol car into the sea. The aviation incident is a reminder of vulnerabilities even at the best facilities like Hong Kong’s, which processed 30 per cent more air cargo than runner-up Shanghai Pudong International Airport in 2024.
The plane’s fuselage snapped in half upon water impact, and no weather anomalies contributed, as conditions were clear, according to airport logs. At this stage little is known as to why the accident happened, yet many are speculating it was due to a mechanical failure on the 30-year-old Boeing.
