A cargo plane from the United Arab Emirates collided with a vehicle while landing at Hong Kong International Airport early Monday morning. The impact caused the plane to veer off the runway and plunge into the sea.
According to the Civil Aviation Department, four crew members were rescued and taken to the hospital. Two ground crew members fell into the sea; one died at the scene while the other died after being rushed to the hospital.
The incident occurred at around 3:50 a.m. Photos show the plane almost half submerged in water, with a large crack, and the emergency slide open.
As a result, the airport's north runway was temporarily closed while operations continued on the other runways. An estimated ₱1.04 trillion was spent on the airport's expansion, including the new runway that opened last year.
The Transport and Logistics Bureau expressed concern and assured that the Air Accident Investigation Authority would investigate the cause of the accident. Meanwhile, several cargo flights were canceled but passenger flights remained normal.
