Two people were killed after a cargo plane slid off the north runway of Hong Kong International Airport early on Monday morning, apparently striking a ground vehicle and plunging almost entirely into the sea, police have said.
At about 3.50am, Emirates flight EK9788 from Dubai veered off the runway while landing, according to police, who said it is suspected to have struck a ground service vehicle in the process.
The aircraft, a Boeing 747 freighter, failed to stop in time and partly landed in the waters off the airport’s north runway. Initial reports suggest the plane also knocked the ground vehicle into the sea.
Two men aboard the ground vehicle were initially reported missing. One, aged 30, was pulled from the sea and confirmed dead at the scene at 5.55am. The other, aged 41, was sent to North Lantau Hospital and was confirmed dead at 6.26am.
All four of the flight’s crew members escaped unharmed.
As a result of the incident, the airport’s north runway has been temporarily closed.
