Air ACT 747-400 Runway Excursion At Hong Kong (HKG) On EK9788
ID 150604129 © Jozsef Soos | Dreamstime.com
An Air ACT Boeing 747-400 freighter operating as Emirates SkyCargo flight EK9788 veered off Runway 07L at Hong Kong International (HKG) in the pre-dawn hours, coming to rest in the water. All four crew members survived. Tragically, two people in a ground service vehicle were fatally injured.
What Happened
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Flight: EK9788, operated by Air ACT on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo
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Route: Dubai World Central (DWC) ➜ Hong Kong International (HKG)
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Time: A little before 4:00 a.m. local time, Monday, October 20, 2025
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Runway: 07L at Hong Kong International (HKG)
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Outcome: The aircraft departed the left side of the runway during rollout and came to rest in the water adjacent to the runway. The crew of four were rescued without serious injuries. A ground vehicle was struck during the sequence; both occupants lost their lives.
The Aircraft And Operator
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Type: Boeing 747-400 freighter
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Registration: TC-ACF (approximately 32 years old)
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Operator: Air ACT (Turkey), flying on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo (EK)
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Fleet note: Prior to this accident, Air ACT reportedly operated two Boeing 747-400s, so the loss of this airframe represents roughly half of its active 747-400 fleet. (As always, the loss of life is far more significant than the loss of an aircraft.)
Conditions & Open Questions
Weather at Hong Kong International (HKG) around the time of arrival was not reported as a primary factor, and visibility was generally acceptable. Key questions investigators will examine include:
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Runway surface condition on 07L at the time of landing
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Braking, spoiler, and thrust reverser performance and configuration
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Crosswind or gust factors during the rollout
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The exact position and movement of the ground vehicle relative to landing clearance and surface control instructions
Expect data from the flight data recorder (FDR) and cockpit voice recorder (CVR) to clarify the rollout sequence, the timeline of the vehicle strike, and the jet’s path from touchdown to excursion.
Operational Impact At Hong Kong International (HKG)
While emergency response and recovery operations continue near Runway 07L, authorities have worked to keep other movements flowing at Hong Kong International (HKG). Airlines should be able to maintain a reduced but stable operation using available runway capacity. Crews and dispatchers will watch for updated NOTAMs, taxiway closures, and revised arrival/departure procedures while the aircraft is recovered and the runway is inspected.
Context For AvGeeks
The Boeing 747-400 remains a staple of the global cargo market thanks to its payload-range balance, main-deck cargo door, and ability to accommodate outsized freight. On a sector such as DWC–HKG, operators typically prioritize schedule reliability and turnaround speed to feed onward regional networks across Asia. A runway excursion into the water at an airport like Hong Kong International (HKG)—with runways built on reclaimed land flanked by seawalls—creates a particularly complex recovery operation involving cranes, barges, and specialized lifting gear to prevent further structural damage or environmental impact.
Bottom Line
An Air ACT Boeing 747-400 operating EK9788 from Dubai World Central (DWC) to Hong Kong International (HKG) suffered a runway excursion on 07L and came to rest in the water. The four crew survived, while two ground personnel in a service vehicle tragically died. Investigators will focus on rollout dynamics, runway conditions, and ground vehicle positioning to determine why a routine cargo arrival turned catastrophic. FlyMag will continue to follow official updates from Hong Kong as the investigation progresses.
