Two dead after plane skids off runway and crashes into the sea

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Two people have died after a cargo plane swerved off a runway and plunged into the sea at Hong Kong International Airport.

The Boeing 747-400 crashed into a car and veered over a sea wall, snapping off its tail and landing in the water at 3.53am local time today.

The plane was travelling at 90 knots – about 104 miles per hour – when it failed to stop in time and skidded on the north runway.

After crashing into the car, which had two ground crew members inside, the Boeing 747-400’s wheels tore off.

A cargo plane lies partially in the sea after veering off the runway during landing at Hong Kong International Airport in Hong Kong, China, October 20, 2025. REUTERS/Tyrone Siu
Two ground crew members died (Picture: Reuters)
Mandatory Credit: Photo by Vernon Yuen/Nexpher via ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock (15550937aa) A cargo plane lies partially in the sea after veering off the runway while landing at Hong Kong International Airport on October 19, 2025 in Hong Kong. Two people were killed after a cargo plane slid off the north runway of Hong Kong International Airport early on Monday morning. Hong Kong Plane Crash - 20 Oct 2025
A chunk of the plane’s tail appears missing (Picture: Vernon Yuen/Nexpher/ZUMA Press Wire/Shutterstock)
This handout photo taken and released on October 20, 2025 by Airport Authority Hong Kong shows a Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft after it hit a ground vehicle during landing on the north runway of Hong Kong's international airport and skidded into the sea, killing two. A cargo plane hit a vehicle on the runway at Hong Kong's airport during landing on October 20 and skidded into the sea, killing two ground crew workers, authorities said. (Photo by Handout / Airport Authority Hong Kong / AFP) / RESTRICTED TO EDITORIAL USE - MANDATORY CREDIT "AFP PHOTO / AIRPORT AUTHORITY HONG KONG" - HANDOUT - NO MARKETING NO ADVERTISING CAMPAIGNS - DISTRIBUTED AS A SERVICE TO CLIENTS (Photo by HANDOUT/Airport Authority Hong Kong/AFP via Getty Images)
The cargo plane hit a vehicle on the runway during landing (Picture: Getty Images)

One of the occupants inside the car, 30, was pulled by divers from the sea and confirmed dead at 5.55am.

A second passenger, 41, was also rescued and taken to North Lantau Hospital but died less than an hour later, according to local media.

All four crew members of the Emirates flight, EK9788, operated by Turkish cargo and passenger charter company Air ACT, were rescued and taken to the hospital. None suffered any injuries.

The nose of the plane was still touching the shore.

The freighter had departed from Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai and was due to land in Hong Kong just after 4am.

The north runway was closed following the incident, local civil aviation officials said, adding that they are ‘highly concerned’.

Emirates and operator ACT Airlines are investigating the incident.

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