Emirates 747 Skids Off Hong Kong Runway; Two Dead

On Oct. 20 shortly before 4 a.m., a Boeing 747-400 freighter operating as Emirates SkyCargo flight EK9788, wet‑leased to and crewed by Turkey’s ACT/AirACT, skidded off Hong Kong International Airport’s north runway while landing from Dubai and came to rest partially submerged after breaking through the perimeter fence. The jet struck an airport patrol/security vehicle on the perimeter road, pushing it into the sea and killing two ground security officers, named in some reports as Chan Chun-yin and Vincent Ho Kwok-cheung; all four crew were rescued and taken to hospital. Authorities said weather and runway conditions were suitable for normal operations and air traffic controllers received no distress calls, though video and eyewitnesses show the aircraft veering sharply left during the landing roll. The aircraft was severely damaged, operations at the cargo terminal were disrupted, and helicopters and vessels were deployed to the scene. Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department and the Air Accident Investigation Authority have opened formal investigations and are seeking the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, and police have not ruled out a criminal inquiry. Investigators are examining possible loss of directional control after touchdown, including asymmetric thrust or systems faults, but have made no final determination on the cause.