A Boeing 747 operating a cargo flight on behalf of Emirates ran off the runway in Hong Kong and ended up in the water, and sadly there are a couple of casualties. While I first covered this shortly after the accident, we’ve learned more details with each hour, so I’d like to go over everything we know.
In this post:
Air ACT Boeing 747 veers off Hong Kong runway
This incident happened at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) a little before 4AM local time on Monday, October 20, 2025. It involves Air ACT flight EK9788, which was operating from Dubai World Central (DWC). The flight was operated by a 32-year-old Boeing 747-400 with the registration code TC-ACF.
After a 6hr53min flight, the jumbo jet landed on runway 7L, the airport’s northernmost runway. While it remains to be seen why this happened, the plane somehow veered off the runway. It slowed to around 100 knots as usual, but then it turned left, and it crashed into the water at around 60 knots.
Unfortunately after veering off the runway and before crashing into the sea, the plane struck a ground service vehicle driving on the airport’s perimeter road.
The flight crew of four people were all rescued and didn’t sustain serious injuries. However, the two people in the vehicle had a different outcome — they were tragically killed in this accident (one was declared dead at the scene, and the other was taken to a hospital, and then declared dead).
At the time of the accident, there was no distress call from the pilots, and the approach was completely normal. The weather at the time of the accident was fine — there were wind gusts up to 21 knots, but that’s hardly anything out of the ordinary. Below you can see a video with the air traffic control audio, leading up to the accident.
It’s absolutely surreal to see a Boeing 747 simply floating in the sea, broken into parts. And what a tragedy that two lives were claimed in this accident. If there’s any silver lining, at least this wasn’t a passenger flight, where the potential injuries and casualties could’ve been much higher.
For context, Air ACT is a Turkish cargo airline, and this flight was being operated on behalf of Emirates Cargo (as you can tell based on the use of Emirates’ code, “EK”). Air ACT only had two Boeing 747-400s before this, so it lost half of its fleet in this accident (of course the loss of an aircraft is much less significant than the loss of life).
What could’ve caused this terrible accident?
As of now, there are a lot more questions than answers as to what happened. To state the obvious, planes don’t typically veer off runways, especially when there are no previous distress calls, and when weather conditions are fine.
One would assume that the most likely cause of the accident was either some sort of mechanical failure, or pilot error (admittedly that’s what causes most accidents). Was there a gear or reverse thrust issue after the plane landed?
Unfortunately Air ACT doesn’t exactly have a great safety record. In 2017, the airline had a fatal Boeing 747 crash in Bishkek (FRU), where it was operating on behalf of Turkish Airlines. While attempting to land at the airport, the plane crashed into a residential area, killing 39 people (four crew members and 35 people on the ground). This was determined to largely be due to pilot error. Such a small airline having two 747 hull losses is pretty alarming.
Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority (AIAA) is investigating this latest incident, and has released the following statement:
“The Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) has launched an investigation into an accident involving a B744 cargo aircraft (flight number UAE9788), arriving from Al Maktoum International Airport, United Arab Emirates, deviating from the North Runway after landing and ditched into the sea this morning (October 20). It was also found that a ground handling vehicle had fallen into the sea, causing the death of two people on board.”
Bottom line
An Air ACT Boeing 747 operating on behalf of Emirates had an awful accident early Monday morning, as it skid off the runway and plunged into the sea. While the entire crew was rescued without injury, unfortunately the plane also hit a vehicle with people in it that was driving on an airport access road, and sadly those people were killed.
My thoughts are with the families of those who lost their lives… how sad. It’ll be interesting to see what an investigation into this incident reveals.
What do you make of this Boeing 747 incident in Hong Kong?
It's astounding that the same small cargo operator has lost two 747s now. Doesn't seem like it's coincidence at that rate.
Although it pales next to the loss of life, and the disruption of air operations, my curiosity has me wondering how they deal with salvage. Is any of the cargo retrievable? Is it a complete loss? Is there any recycling or other cleanup?
With the simplest internet investigation (ask Mr Google) omarsidd, one will find that the aircraft was NOT loaded with any cargo.
I hope that this aids your curiosity.
I simply luv this website …. today, I find that I must apologise to “Eskimo, PENILE and the others”. You see that the obviously brain damaged/dead 1990, posts that we are one and “The same fellow”. Fancy that Eskimo, are you impressed or insulted?
1990, thank you for the proof, if proof was ever needed, that you are ……. :-) Simply a joke, old darlink, nothing but a joke.
Cool story, chap.
Loser.
John, just to clarify, were you referring to '1990' or 'AeroB13a'? (Or both of us?) I can take it. Not sure AeroB13a can. If you meant just me, please do better. I like it spicer.
1990, I think that bumpkin was attempting to insult me. It is not the first time that he has repeated the only word which he learned in kindergarten. Sadly, after all these years he still has not grasped the fact that his keepers were actually referring to him!
Ah, well, maybe you can take it, after all. Respect.
Reciprocated 1990.
And Ben appears to have reposted this article, so, perhaps, the circus will continue soon...
the edgelord commenters on this site are cooked haha
Popcorn, some might consider it to be better a “Cooked” provocateur, than a discarded half-baked cookie, yes?
The AAHK director has confirmed in a media stand up that the vehicle was on the access road outside the perimeter fence, between the fence and the water. The plane was on the other side of the fence in the airfield. It was physically impossible for the vehicle to have been on the the runway.
If you dare 'trust' the pro-CCP 'China Daily,' they say: "Two men were killed at Hong Kong International Airport at around 4am on Monday after their ground patrol vehicle was catapulted into the sea by a cargo plane from Dubai which veered off the North Runway while landing."
I found their use of 'catapulted' to be especially 'vivid,' though, if it were me who had perished in such an incident, personally, I would have preferred...
If you dare 'trust' the pro-CCP 'China Daily,' they say: "Two men were killed at Hong Kong International Airport at around 4am on Monday after their ground patrol vehicle was catapulted into the sea by a cargo plane from Dubai which veered off the North Runway while landing."
I found their use of 'catapulted' to be especially 'vivid,' though, if it were me who had perished in such an incident, personally, I would have preferred 'trébuchet-ed' for extra effect. Like, I don't wanna 'go out' on a mere catapult... ya know, call me a purist, but I want the more specific French term for my becoming a projectile.
Some find it very easy to criticise the English of those who do not have my language as their first language.
Therefore, please be advised 1990, that your version of my language is extremely questionable. In point of fact your rendering of the English language is far worse than many HK Chinese residents who I know.
That's because I speak 'American.'
Be advised, we defeated British, twice (1775-1983, and in 1812).
I loathe our current administration, but, nothing makes me a rabid nationalist like an faux-outsider (AeroB13a, oh please, you're doing a bit, remember) telling me 'should' do things your way. Don't make me get out the trébuchet!
…. Thank you 1990, you have confirmed what has been suspected for sometime now.
Speaking like an “American” is not your thing old chap. Speaking like an extremely rude and uneducated person who might live in the USA, could be more accurate, yes?
Educated Americans might well be horrified to be spoken about in the same breath as you old bean. Beware of your blood pressure now …. :-)
*pulls out release pin on the trébuchet*
;-)
…. MISS FIRE …. wait five minutes and try again …. :-)
*launches projectile straight into the air*
Oh no... this is turning into the 1521 siege of Tenochtitlan all over again...
'Time to run!'
But 1990, trust me I am no Conquistador, Pedro de Alvarado, nor Aztec, Moctezuma (Montezuma). Perhaps we both might stand our ground?
Again, language is critical in so-called “journalistic” reporting. While I understand this may not qualify as journalism (nor as “TikTokking”), describing two individuals as having “passed away” in a violent air accident feels rather inappropriate.
I know this might not be the ideal place to raise it, but it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time such phrasing has appeared on OMAAT. I don’t believe it’s merely a slip of the tongue, especially...
Again, language is critical in so-called “journalistic” reporting. While I understand this may not qualify as journalism (nor as “TikTokking”), describing two individuals as having “passed away” in a violent air accident feels rather inappropriate.
I know this might not be the ideal place to raise it, but it’s worth noting that this isn’t the first time such phrasing has appeared on OMAAT. I don’t believe it’s merely a slip of the tongue, especially given that Ben presumably has the intellectual discernment to distinguish between such descriptions. This has happened before, notably in the context of Palestine/Israel and the suspension or resumption of flights to TLV, where he sometimes used the term “killed” for Israeli casualties and “died” for Palestinian ones. That, of course, is a form of dehumanisation, Just observing btw.
please stfu
What in the actual world lol
Ben posts about a tragic accident and you try to spin it into a story about how Palestine is the victim? Ben is very compassionate, and I truly believe him to be saddened by the two deaths in this story. For me it is disgusting to use such a tragedy to somehow profit the Palestine cause.
100% agreed. Surprised Ben has left this comment up, given his pro genocide extremist rhetoric. I guess he didn’t receive his $7000 from Satanyahu today.
This type of comment is insufferable and chips away at my faith in humanity
Levaa, I may disagree somewhat on your 'hot take' here, but I respect your willingness to share your thoughts, and Ben's (so-far) willingness to keep comments open for differing views, unlike the shills over at TPG who couldn't handle the heat and got rid of comments long ago.
To those that disagree with Levaa's take, you don't need to 'censor' others to 'win' your arguments; you can ignore it or engage; call out what...
Levaa, I may disagree somewhat on your 'hot take' here, but I respect your willingness to share your thoughts, and Ben's (so-far) willingness to keep comments open for differing views, unlike the shills over at TPG who couldn't handle the heat and got rid of comments long ago.
To those that disagree with Levaa's take, you don't need to 'censor' others to 'win' your arguments; you can ignore it or engage; call out what you don't 'like' and 'explain' why. That's the better way.
@1990.
Agree with you.
BTW what's TPG?
The Points Guy/Douche.
A fine example 1990 that there are such things as stupid answers to a perfectly reasonable question!
Justin, please try to ignore the ignorance of 1990.
AeroB13a, make no mistake, I'm not calling justindev any times; I'm calling TPG names. Those shills couldn't handle the 'voice of the people' so the d-word is quite appropriate for them.
Besides, didn't TPG get sold to BankNote.com? Like, I get it, everyone needs 'money,' but, those shills are nothing like the O.G. bloggers (Matt, Gary, etc., who have enough 'integrity' to at least allow discourse), or the folks like William and Chuck at DoC who just want everyone to get the best publicly available offers possible on cards and bank bonuses, etc., and to be an open resource to those still seeking to manufactured spend, etc.
your mentally unstable
"Doctor" levaa hater, could you be more specific with your criticisms... which one of us have you diagnosed? Also, I wish to further nitpick; I think you meant 'you're' (as in, you are) as opposed to 'your' the possessive.
(I'm gonna assume it was 'Levaa'... I donno... something gave it away...)
This comment felt incredibly stupid when I started reading it but then it started to make sense when you started mumbling about Palestine. It sounds stupid because it is.
Of course it was Turkish… wouldn’t trust those fellas… they won’t admit to the Armenian genocide… and their leader is an autocrat… meaning, they don’t tend to value the truth, which can be deadly fields like aviation.
Anyhoo, glad no one got hurt too much. Sucks for the cargo and the aircraft. Gonna assume that’s a total write-off, unless you can scoop it outta the harbor… yeah, no, yeah… it’s gone.
Whoopsie, I see the vehicle (2 missing). Sowie!
According to SCMP, both occupants of the vehicle have died.
Seeing a 747 in the water off Hong Kong with no vertical stabilizer reminds me of China Airlines 605, which ran off the runway at Kai Tak. They dynamited the stabilizer because it was interfering with instrument landing systems. Here, something sheared it off.
Awful. Their families deserve to be fully-compensated by the company responsible (Turkish airline ATC.)
Uh, that's what the investigation is for. It's not clear if the vehicle was on the runway or off, and if on, why.
One more time, are you the same 'Jack' as on DoC with the 'MeOff' comments following him?
Like someone else said, why on earth would you seemingly make light of the situation by that quip of Air ACT being reduced to one 747?!?! Someone died. Lucky jokes. Classy...NOT!
Oh, now I see… ‘two missing’ from the vehicle that was struck… if so, how tragic… hopefully Turkey won’t deny this either… speaking of, they also committed a genocide against the Greeks around the same time (1915-1922), which they also won’t own up to… hmm…
Scary situation. With the pilot alive, let’s hope for a speedy investigation with firsthand accounts of what happened. Also let’s hope all survivors have paid leave from work to heal psychologically from something like this.
“Air ACT only has two Boeing 747-400s… and I guess now it has just one of them.”
Not sure why you’d make a flippant remark in a story reporting the death of at least one person.
@ MFK -- You're right, I'm sorry, that came across a lot more flippantly than I intended, and I should have expressed that batter. I certainly wasn't trying to make a joke, so I updated the post. My point was to say that the airline lost half its fleet in this accident (which doesn't often happen), but of course that's secondary to any loss of life.
Oh, please, don’t take MFK too seriously. Ben, we know you weren’t making light of anyone’s harm. Trolls gon troll. Troll them back, if you’re into it.
Takes a troll to know a troll 1990, go back to ‘moderating” VFTW. stay off this one FFS. I’m running out of blogs where your incessant post aren’t polluting the comments.
One wholeheartedly agrees Pilot, this is not an article upon which political flippancy or racism has any place.
Two people tragically lost their lives as a result of this air accident and the trolls should not respond inappropriately. The lack of respect and common decency is deplorable.
Those trolls who have commented inappropriately, can expect at the appropriate time and on a different subject, to themselves become the victims of one’s displeasure.
AeroB13a, I disagree; you're 'don't get political' quip is akin to 'don't talk about gun-control' after a mass-shooting. Huh, but, if there's never a good time to discuss, then we won't ever discuss. So, yet again, no, censorship is not the answer.
Pilot93434, as I've said many times before, you can ignore or engage. No one should self-censor. And anyone demanding others 'be quiet' clearly disagree 'on-substance,' but are unwilling to respectfully debate. You do you, sir.
Oh FFS, MFK, don't be so bloody precious.
I disagree with MFK's post. Even without the correction, it's unfair to suggest flippancy. I'd rather the victims were described as being "killed" since that's what happened and it was obviously brutal and tragic, rather than "passed away" which is more appropriate in a nonviolent death. Normal English-language journalism never uses "passed away" in a report of events such as these.
Snowflakes and gaslights.
You gotta love 2025.
Eskimo, hey, bud, sorry to hear about Alaska... the damages in Kipnuk look bad. Anyway, I just thought, you know, since you're an eskimo, you'd appreciate the thought (and prayer).
Hypocrite 1990, your post is yet again inappropriate and in such poor taste. Some people know no better is imagine.
AeroB13a, you must know that hypocrisy is our only currency here. (Wait, aren't you and Eskimo, and PENILE, and the others, the same fellow?)
literally everybody here is just you and me, 1990