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Tue, Nov 11, 2025 | Jumada al-Awwal 20, 1447 | Fajr 05:13 | DXB 
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2 dead after cargo plane from Dubai operated by ACT Airlines skids off Hong Kong runway
The four crew members on board the plane were rescued, the Hong Kong airport said in a statement
An Emirates cargo plane, owned by Turkish firm Air ACT, flying from Dubai skidded off the runway into the sea while landing at Hong Kong International Airport early on Monday.
Two Hong Kong airport security staff were killed in the incident when the plane collided with their security patrol vehicle and pushed it into the sea, the city's airport operator said. All four crew members on board the plane were rescued.
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Emirates confirmed to Khaleej Times that flight EK9788 sustained damage on landing in Hong Kong on Monday and was a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft wet-leased from and operated by ACT Airlines. "Crew are confirmed to be safe and there was no cargo onboard," the airline said.
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"The aircraft, a Boeing 747-400 with registration TC-ACF, was not carrying cargo at the time of the incident. All four crew members onboard have been confirmed safe and are receiving medical attention. Emirates extends our condolences to the families and colleagues of the two airport employees who lost their lives on the ground.
“Emirates remains available to support the investigation as needed. The operator, ACT Airlines, along with other stakeholders, is cooperating fully with the ongoing investigation. Emirates extends our condolences to the families and colleagues of the two airport employees who lost their lives on the ground,” said the statement issued by the spokesperson.
Photos taken after the accident showed a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft with AirACT livery partially submerged in water near the airport's sea wall with an escape slide deployed and the nose and tail sections separated.
Watch a Reuters video below:
Turkish carrier Air ACT also confirmed the incident: “On October 19, 2025, during flight EK9788 from Dubai to Hong Kong, our Boeing 747 freighter aircraft registered as TC-ACF, which veered off the runway following landing at Hong Kong International Airport for reasons that have not yet been determined, came to rest near the sea, and sustained damage. All four crew members on board have been confirmed to be in good health. Unfortunately, we have been informed that the aircraft collided with a ground service vehicle, resulting in loss of two lives,” the company said in a statement on its website.
Flights at Hong Kong International Airport were unaffected on Monday following the incident. The Civil Aviation Department said in a statement on Monday that the aircraft had "deviated from the north runway after landing and ditched into the sea."
ACT Airlines is a Turkish carrier that provides extra cargo capacity to major airlines. It did not respond immediately to a request for comment outside normal business hours.
Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said the aircraft involved in the accident was 32 years old and had served as a passenger plane before being converted into a freighter.
Waheed Abbas
Waheed Abbas is Assistant Editor, covering real estate, aviation and other business stories that directly affect the lives of UAE consumers. He frequently reports human interest stories, too.
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