Cargo Boeing Aircraft Leaves Tarmac at Hong Kong International Airport — Investigation Underway
Published: October 20, 2025
In the early hours of Monday morning, a serious incident occurred at Hong Kong International Airport, one of the world’s busiest air-cargo hubs. A cargo-configured Boeing 747‑400 freighter, operating under wet-lease by ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo, slid off the designated tarmac after touchdown and landed partially in the sea, colliding with a ground patrol vehicle in the process. 3
The Sequence of Events
The aircraft arrived from Dubai’s Al Maktoum International Airport and touched down on the airport’s northern runway at around 03:50 a.m. local time. 4 According to officials, the landing appeared routine until the aircraft veered off the runway, broke through the perimeter fence and came to rest in shallow water at the edge of the sea wall. 5
At that same time, a security patrol vehicle — operating along the designated road outside the runway fence — was struck by the aircraft during the excursion. Tragically, the two ground staff inside the vehicle were killed. 6 Meanwhile, all four crew members aboard the aircraft survived without serious injuries. 7
Airport & Operational Impact
The airport’s operator, Airport Authority Hong Kong, confirmed that the incident occurred on the north runway. The other two runways remained operational following safety inspections. 9 Air traffic control recordings indicate the pilot did not report any technical issue prior to landing. 10
Photos and video footage emerging from the scene show the freighter partially submerged with its fuselage fractured and escape slides deployed, emphasising the severity of the excursion. 11
Investigation Underway
The incident has been classified as an “accident” by the Air Accident Investigation Authority (Hong Kong) and a full investigation is underway. Among the factors under review are aircraft systems, maintenance records, crew procedures and runway/landing-environment conditions. 13
Both the cockpit-voice recorder (CVR) and flight-data recorder (FDR) are being retrieved and analysed to determine the precise chain of events. 14 With no immediate distress message received from the crew, investigators are probing whether a sudden loss of control or technical fault may have triggered the excursion. 15
Why This Incident Matters
- Hong Kong International Airport is one of Asia’s busiest cargo airports, making safety incidents particularly impactful for global supply-chains.
- The freighter involved was a Boeing 747-400, nearly 32 years old and converted from passenger service to cargo operations — age and configuration may form part of the technical review. 16
- The collision with a ground vehicle outside the runway fence raises questions about perimeter-safety, vehicle operating zones, and emergency response protocols.
- Runway excursions remain among the most challenging incidents in aviation, as they often involve high speeds, limited braking/escape margins and changing surface conditions — key considerations for investigators.
What Happens Next?
The investigation team is expected to publish a preliminary report in the coming weeks, with a final detailed report potentially taking many months. In the meantime, the airport has committed to reviewing its procedures around vehicle-movements near runways and enhancing oversight of older cargo aircraft operations. The operator will also support the families of the deceased staff. 17
Readers are encouraged to follow updates as more information becomes available, including any safety recommendations issued as a result of this incident.
Source: Reporting by Reuters, Associated Press and local Hong Kong media.
