A catastrophic accident occurred at Hong Kong International Airport in the early hours of october 20, 2025, when a cargo plane skidded off the runway, smashed through a perimeter fence, and plunged partially into the sea, killing two airport employees on the ground.

The aircraft, a Boeing 747 operating as Emirates SkyCargo Flight 9788, was arriving from Dubai's Al Maktoum International Airport around 3:50 a.m. local time. During its landing on runway 07L amidst challenging weather conditions, the plane veered off the slick tarmac. It then collided with an airport security patrol vehicle on a service road before coming to rest partially submerged in the water.

The two security personnel inside the vehicle, a 41-year-old man and a 30-year-old man, were fatally injured. One was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other was rushed to a hospital and later succumbed to his injuries. The four crew members aboard the aircraft survived the crash and were rescued before being taken to a hospital for evaluation.

Emirates SkyCargo confirmed details of the incident but noted that the flight was operated by the Turkish carrier ACT Airlines, also known as Air ACT, on its behalf. All crew members were employees of ACT Airlines. The aircraft, a 32-year-old converted freighter with the registration TC-ACF, was reportedly not carrying any cargo at the time of the crash.

The impact of the crash was severe, with reports indicating the aircraft's body split in half. The incident prompted the temporary closure of the airport's north runway for investigation and safety checks, though the airport’s other runways remained operational, minimizing major disruptions to flight schedules.

Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department has launched a full investigation into the crash. Authorities will examine a range of factors, including the adverse weather, the condition of the runway, a review of the aircraft's performance, and the actions of the aircrew.

The accident marks the deadliest to occur at Hong Kong International Airport in more than 25 years. The last fatal crash at the airport was in 1999, when a China Airlines flight crashed on landing during a typhoon, resulting in three deaths.