NEED TO KNOW
-
At least two people die after a plane skids off the runway, crashes into a car and lands in the ocean
-
An Emirates Boeing 747 cargo plane crashed while arriving from Dubai at Hong Kong International Airport
-
Photographs taken afterwards show the plane partially submerged in water.
At least two people have died after a plane skidded off the runway, crashed into a car and landed in the ocean.
An Emirates Boeing 747 cargo plane, identified as EK9788 and operating as Aerotranscargo, crashed shortly before 4 a.m. local time on Monday, October 20, while arriving from Dubai at Hong Kong International Airport, according to ABC News, Reuters and the BBC, which cited airport authorities.
The plane collided with a car on the runway and both the vehicle and the plane fell into the ocean at the same time. Two workers who were traveling in the vehicle died. One was pronounced dead at the scene and the other was pronounced deceased after being taken to a local hospital, according to media.
Investigators believe the plane hit the car as it veered off the runway. Four employees aboard the plane survived and were taken to a nearby hospital, media said.
A cargo plane lies partially in the sea after veering off the runway during landing at Hong Kong International Airport.
Photos taken afterward show the plane partially submerged in water near the airport jetty. The plane’s inflatable escape slide was deployed and the nose and tail sections of the plane were separated.
Emirates confirmed to Reuters that its aircraft was leased and operated by ACT Airlines, a Turkish airline that provides additional cargo capacity to major airlines.
“It is confirmed that the crew is safe and there was no cargo on board,” the airline told the outlet in a statement.
Related: https://people-app.onelink.me/HNIa/kz7l4cuf
Flight tracking information obtained by Reuters indicated that the plane was 32 years old and had previously been used as a passenger plane.
Emirates and ACT Airlines did not immediately respond to PEOPLE’s request for comment.
Never miss a story — sign up for PEOPLE’s free daily newsletter to stay up-to-date on the best PEOPLE has to offer, from celebrity news to compelling human interest stories.
Local media reported that the Hong Kong Government Flight Service deployed helicopters over the affected runway and that Fire Department vessels also assisted in rescue operations.
Investigators have not yet shared what caused the plane to skid off the runway.
According to the BBC, the incident is unusual at Hong Kong airport, as the facility has a good safety record.
Read the original article on People