Cargo Plane Skids into Sea at Hong Kong Airport After Hitting Vehicle; Two Ground Crew Dead

Boeing 744 cargo aircraft from UAE veers off runway and crashes into the sea during landing; investigation launched into tragic pre-dawn accident

Oct 2025 : A cargo plane collided with a ground vehicle and skidded into the sea during landing at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday, killing two ground crew workers and injuring several others, officials said.

Photos and live footage from local media showed the Boeing 744 aircraft partially submerged, with its fuselage split and the emergency evacuation slide deployed. The accident occurred around 3:50 am local time (1950 GMT Sunday) as the plane arrived from the United Arab Emirates.

According to Hong Kong’s Civil Aviation Department, the plane “deviated from the North Runway after landing and ditched into the sea.” Preliminary reports confirmed that all four crew members aboard were rescued and taken to hospital. However, two ground staff were thrown into the sea following the collision.

Authorities said the cargo plane struck a ground service vehicle on the runway before veering off course. A 30-year-old man in the vehicle was declared dead at the scene, while another 41-year-old succumbed to injuries later in hospital.

The aircraft came to rest with its nose partially above the water and its tail section broken off. Emergency response teams, including helicopters from the Government Flying Service and vessels from the Fire Services Department, were dispatched for rescue and recovery operations.

The north runway was temporarily closed following the incident, though the airport’s other two runways remained open. Several cargo flights were cancelled, but passenger operations were largely unaffected, according to the South China Morning Post.

A spokesman from the Transport and Logistics Bureau expressed deep concern and said that the Air Accident Investigation Authority would “actively investigate the cause of the accident.”

Hong Kong International Airport, one of the world’s busiest air cargo hubs, recently completed an HK$142 billion ($18 billion) expansion, including a third runway inaugurated last November. Officials said the project aimed to strengthen the city’s position as a leading global aviation center.