A cargo aircraft landing at Hong Kong International Airport on the morning of October 20, 2025, veered off its designated runway and plunged into the sea, resulting in the deaths of two airport security personnel.
The aircraft — a Boeing 747 freighter operated by Turkish carrier ACT Airlines under a wet-lease agreement with Emirates SkyCargo — had flown in from Dubai and landed on the airport’s northern runway just before 4 a.m. local time.
While approaching, no distress call was made by the pilots. After touchdown, the aircraft suddenly veered off the runway, collided with a security patrol vehicle outside the runway fence, and partly submerged in the adjacent sea.
Inside the struck vehicle were two airport staff members, aged 30 and 41, who were pulled from the water. One died at the scene; the other was pronounced dead later in hospital.
Miraculously, all four crew members aboard the freighter were rescued unharmed and taken for medical checks.
Airport authorities confirmed that the north runway has been closed temporarily pending investigation, while the other runways remain operational.
An investigation into the accident is underway by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (Hong Kong), which is retrieving the flight data and cockpit voice recorders and reviewing aircraft systems, landing operations and runway conditions.
The airline confirmed the freighter was empty of cargo at the time and was 32 years old, having been converted from passenger use.
The airport authority expressed condolences to the families of the two victims, both experienced staff with seven and twelve years’ service respectively.