A dramatic early-morning runway incident occurred at Hong Kong International Airport when a Boeing 747 arriving from Dubai, leased to Emirates, veered off the runway and plunged into the sea after colliding with an airport patrol vehicle.
The aircraft landed safely around 3:50 a.m., but according to airport officials, it deviated left about halfway down the runway, breaching the safety fence before striking the patrol car. Both the aircraft and the vehicle ended up partially submerged just beyond the airport’s sea wall.
All four crew members aboard the 32-year-old cargo-free jet were rescued unharmed. Tragically, the two occupants of the patrol car were found dead after divers conducted a 40-minute underwater search.
Emergency teams discovered the aircraft broken into two sections, with the cockpit and front fuselage visible above the waterline as rescue boats surrounded the wreckage.
The north runway has been closed for investigation, though airport authorities confirmed that other flight operations continue as normal. Officials added that weather conditions were suitable for landing at the time of the incident.
The Hong Kong Air Accident Investigation Authority has classified the crash as an official aviation accident and launched a comprehensive probe into potential causes, including the aircraft’s operational systems and maintenance records.
The incident involved a 32-year-old Boeing 747, which was not carrying cargo during the ill-fated landing.
