Cargo Plane Crashes into Sea at Hong Kong Airport; 2 Dead

URGENT UPDATE: A tragic incident unfolded at Hong Kong International Airport early this morning, resulting in the deaths of two security officers. At approximately 3:50 a.m. local time, a Boeing 747 cargo plane skidded off the runway and plunged into the sea, colliding with a security patrol car.

The plane, arriving from Al Maktoum International Airport, deviated from the North Runway upon landing, crashing through protective fencing before veering into the water. According to officials from Hong Kong’s civil aviation department, the plane’s trajectory caused it to strike the patrol vehicle, sending it into the sea. Tragically, one officer was pronounced dead at the scene, while another succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital.

During a press conference, Steven Yiu Siu-Chung, executive director of airport operations, confirmed that the security vehicle was stationed a safe distance from the runway at the time of the collision. “The patrol car was definitely not on the runway,” Yiu stated, emphasizing that it was conducting routine checks along the northern coast of the airport.

The incident has prompted a major emergency response, with 213 firefighters and 45 emergency vehicles dispatched to the scene. Four crew members aboard the cargo plane were successfully rescued and transported to a local hospital, where their conditions are currently being assessed.

As of now, the North Runway remains closed for investigation, but operations on the south and center runways are continuing without disruption. Airport authorities have assured that over 1,000 flights scheduled to depart from Hong Kong today will not be affected.

Photos from the scene reveal the wreckage of the aircraft, which is now in pieces, with its tail section separated from the fuselage. The situation is developing, and authorities are conducting a thorough investigation into the cause of this unfortunate accident.

Emirates Airlines has confirmed that the crew members on board are safe and reported that there was no cargo on the flight at the time of the incident. The airline has yet to issue further comments as investigations proceed.

This shocking event raises significant safety concerns at one of the world’s busiest airports, prompting a need for enhanced scrutiny of runway protocols and security measures. Authorities are expected to provide further updates as investigations continue.

Stay tuned for more breaking news on this developing story.