The global logistics industry was severely shaken by a major aviation incident that transpired in the early hours of October 20, 2025, at Hong Kong International Airport. A Boeing 747-400BDSF cargo jet, operating Flight EK9788, suffered a catastrophic hard landing upon arrival. The flight had originated in Dubai and was being operated by the Turkish carrier AirACT under contract for Emirates SkyCargo. Following the severe impact, the massive freighter failed to stop, overran the end of the northern runway (07L), and plunged into the adjacent sea waters.
The tragic sequence of events unfolded around 3:50 local time. According to tracking data provided by Flightradar24, the aircraft was still moving at approximately 49 knots when it made contact with the water. Before the final plunge, the jet had traveled an estimated 5000 feet beyond the runway threshold, deviating significantly from the marked path. During this uncontrolled excursion, the wide-body aircraft struck a crucial ground service vehicle. The collision had devastating consequences: the service car, occupied by two airport ground staff members, was dragged into the water along with the jet. One employee was tragically killed instantly at the scene of the accident, and the second staff member later succumbed to their critical injuries after being rushed to the hospital.
In contrast to the fatal outcome on the ground, the four individuals comprising the flight crew were successfully rescued from the stricken aircraft. They managed to execute an evacuation using the emergency slides located on the left side of the fuselage. All four crew members were subsequently transported to a local medical facility, where they were treated for minor injuries. A critical detail noted by the Civil Aviation Department is that the pilots did not transmit any form of distress signal while approaching or landing. This suggests that the emergency situation developed suddenly and without sufficient warning for the crew to alert air traffic control.
Hong Kong authorities immediately launched a comprehensive, multi-agency investigation to pinpoint the precise factors that contributed to the runway overrun. The inquiry is meticulously examining all variables, including the prevailing meteorological conditions at the time of landing and the structural condition of the runway surface itself. While the northern strip was necessarily closed to facilitate the highly complex operation of recovering the large aircraft from the sea, airport representatives quickly reassured the public that the incident did not cause significant operational paralysis. With the airport’s two other runways remaining fully functional, the facility successfully maintained its schedule of over 1000 daily flights. Nevertheless, the stark reality of two ground fatalities, despite the crew’s survival, highlights the often-overlooked risks and inherent vulnerability faced by essential personnel working on the airside tarmac.
This devastating accident serves as a potent and urgent call to action regarding the continuous need to scrutinize and reinforce safety protocols, especially those governing the interface between human operational procedures and highly complex aviation technology. The focus moving forward must include enhanced protective measures for ground support staff. Furthermore, this incident carries historical echoes for the airport. Aviation records confirm that this is not an unprecedented event; in 1993, another Boeing 747 also suffered a runway excursion that resulted in the aircraft entering the water, although that previous occurrence thankfully concluded without any loss of life. The recurrence of such a serious runway overrun event underscores a persistent operational challenge that demands renewed and sustained attention from aviation safety regulators.