BREAKING NEWS: A tragic accident at Hong Kong International Airport has claimed the lives of two security officers after a cargo plane skidded off the runway and plunged into the sea early this morning. The incident occurred at approximately 3:50 a.m. local time on October 20, 2023, during the landing of a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft.
Authorities report that the plane deviated from the North Runway upon landing, crashing through fencing and colliding with a security patrol car. The impact forced the vehicle into the water, resulting in the deaths of both officers who were inside. One was pronounced dead at the scene, while the other succumbed to injuries at a nearby hospital. Both officers had dedicated many years to airport security, with service records of seven and twelve years, respectively.
During a press conference, Steven Yiu Siu-Chung, executive director for Hong Kong’s airport operations, confirmed that the patrol car was stationed at a safe distance from the runway at the time of the collision. “It was definitely outside the fences and on a patrol route around the airport’s northern coast,” he stated, emphasizing that the vehicle did not encroach on the runway.
Emergency services responded swiftly, deploying a total of 213 firefighters and 45 emergency vehicles to the scene. Four crew members aboard the cargo plane were rescued and transported to the hospital, with their conditions currently undisclosed.
Despite the incident, the south and center runways at the airport are operational and unaffected, according to Hong Kong’s airport authority. Officials confirmed that over 1,000 flights scheduled for today will proceed as planned, although the north runway remains closed.
Photos from the scene depict significant damage to the aircraft, with its fuselage shattered and the tail separated. The cargo plane was arriving from Al Maktoum International Airport in Dubai.
Emirates, the airline operating the flight, stated that the crew members are “confirmed to be safe” and that there was no cargo on board at the time of the incident. The cause of the accident is currently under investigation, with authorities working to determine the circumstances leading to this devastating event.
As the investigation unfolds, the affected families and the airport community are left to mourn the loss of the dedicated security officers. Stay tuned for further updates on this developing story.
