Tragedy unfolded at Hong Kong International Airport when an aircraft skidded off the runway and crashed into the sea. The incident resulted in two fatalities, while emergency services managed to rescue four crew members.
Emirates provided a statement confirming that the damaged aircraft, identified as EK9788, was a cargo Boeing 747-400 registered as TC-ACF, operated by Act Airlines. Fortunately, all crew members were reported safe, and there was no cargo onboard.
The fatal incident occurred when the Emirates flight EK9788 from Dubai attempted to land around 3:50 am local time on Monday, October 20. The cargo plane veered off course during the landing, crashing through fencing and colliding with an airport security patrol car, leading to two ground members losing their lives.
The Fire Service Department swiftly rescued the four aircraft crew members following the crash. Steven Yiu, the executive director of airport operations at Airport Authority Hong Kong, expressed deep condolences and assured support to the affected families.
Emergency services responded promptly, with 213 firefighters and first aid officers along with 45 vehicles and ships rushing to the scene. The aircraft, a Boeing 747-481 (BDSF), which had been in service for over 30 years, was being operated as Emirates SkyCargo Flight 9788 at the time of the incident.
The Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority has initiated an investigation into the accident involving flight number UAE9788, emphasizing the goal of identifying the circumstances and preventing future recurrences. The authority is following established regulations and international standards in conducting the investigation.