Emirates cargo plane skids off runway at Hong Kong International Airport
Two ground staff dead
An Emirates cargo plane skidded off a runway at Hong Kong International Airport and ended up in the surrounding sea.
Flight EK9788 was arriving from Dubai when it veered off the runway and collided with an airport patrol vehicle pushing it into the sea.
Two ground staff in the vehicle aged 30 and 41 died instantly. It’s believed that the patrol car was, at the time, travelling on a road outside of the runway’s fencing.
Divers managed to locate the bodies of the patrol vehicle occupants in the sea while the four crew members onboard the plane survived unscathed.
The crew members opened the emergency doors of the aircraft shortly after the crash. They were spotted by fire service staff who arrived at the scene within two minutes, and were rescued.
Airport officials have said they gave the correct instructions to the plane and that there are signs on the runway to guide aircraft.
Hong Kong international airport has had a good safety record and the accident marks one of it’s deadliest aviation incidents in years – .
Authorities have launched an investigation as questions remain over the path taken by the plane upon landing.
It marks the second ever deadly incident at the airport since it moved from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok in July 1998.
In August 1999, a China Airlines passenger flight crash landed during a typhoon, killing three people.
