Hong Kong: Chaos struck Hong Kong International Airport early Monday morning after a massive Boeing 747 cargo plane plunged into the sea during landing, killing two people and leaving the runway in wreckage.
The aircraft, operated by Turkish ACT Airlines and arriving from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport (DWC), skidded off the North Runway around 3:50 a.m. before tearing through the tarmac and crashing into the water. Eyewitnesses described the scene as “a thunderous explosion followed by smoke and sirens filling the air.”
Authorities confirmed that two people in an airport ground vehicle were killed instantly, while four crew members aboard the plane were rescued by emergency teams and rushed to a hospital.
Dramatic images show the tail of the Boeing submerged beneath the waves, while the cockpit juts out from the sea like a broken spearhead. The North Runway has been sealed off, and a massive rescue and investigation operation is underway.
Officials stated that the aircraft was not carrying any cargo at the time. Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department has launched an urgent probe in coordination with ACT Airlines and Emirates, from which the aircraft was wet-leased — meaning ACT Airlines handled all flight operations, crew, and maintenance under contract.
The tragic crash has raised serious questions about safety protocols and runway conditions at one of the world’s busiest airports.
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