An Emirates 747 cargo plane operating as Turkish Aerotranscargo skidded off the north runway at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, killing two ground crew members in a fueling vehicle that was pushed into the sea by the plane. Photo by Laurent Gillieran EPA-EFE
At least two people were killed when an Emirates 747 cargo plane skidded off a runway and into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport Monday morning, local media reported.
The flight was arriving from Dubai just before 4 a.m. local time when it collided with a vehicle on the ground, according to Flightradar24.
Officials said four of the plane’s crew members were rescued at the scene and taken to the hospital.
Airport officials said the two deceased victims were in an airport fueling vehicle on the airport tarmac. One of the victims was pronounced dead at the scene. The other was declared deceased at a local hospital.
Police said they suspect the Aerotranscargo flight collided with the vehicle after the plane failed to stop in time and skidded off the runway, the South China Morning Post reported. Photos and video showed the plane’s nose section partially submerged in the water and the fuselage badly damaged.
The Emirates flight, operating as Aerotranscargo, was landing on the north runway when it collided with the vehicle. The two victims who were killed reportedly “fell into the sea,” according to a statement by the Civil Aviation Authority.
The airport remained open, but the north runway was closed pending an investigation into the crash.
