HONG KONG — A dramatic aviation accident early Monday morning saw an Emirates SkyCargo flight operated by Turkish carrier Air ACT run off the runway and plunge into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport, resulting in the death of one airport worker and leaving another missing.
The incident occurred around 3:53 a.m. local time when flight EK9788, arriving from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), landed on Runway 07R. The Boeing 747-481 (registered TC-ACF) reportedly veered sharply to the left during its landing roll, breached the seawall, and came to rest partially in the water.
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All four Air ACT crew members on board escaped unharmed. However, the aircraft struck a ground-service vehicle, shearing off one of its wheels. One airport staff member inside the vehicle was killed, while another remains missing as fire, marine, and Government Flying Service units conduct ongoing rescue operations by boat and helicopter.
Data from Flightradar24 shows the plane’s path veering sharply after touchdown. The crash also forced a Cathay Pacific flight CX851, approaching behind EK9788, to abort its landing.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong has suspended the north runway while debris is cleared and damage is assessed. Aviation authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash.
Air ACT, based in Istanbul and founded in 2004, operates Boeing 747-400 freighters under its myCargo brand for global charters and major logistics firms, including Emirates SkyCargo.
The incident has sent shockwaves through Hong Kong’s aviation community as rescue and investigative operations continue.