FLASH
Shkruar nga Pamfleti
A serious incident has occurred on the runway of Hong Kong International Airport, where a plane skidded and ended up in the sea, causing two fatalities. The latter are reportedly part of the airport's ground staff.
Emirates flight EK9788 was arriving from Dubai at around 03:50 local time (19:50 GMT) when it skidded off the runway and collided with a patrol vehicle on the airport runway.
The two passengers of the vehicle died, while the four crew members on board the plane survived.
It marks one of the deadliest aviation incidents in Hong Kong in years. The city's international airport has had a good safety record.
Authorities have launched an investigation, while questions remain about the path the plane took after landing.
Airport officials said they gave the cargo plane the correct instructions and that there are signs on the runway to guide the planes.
The airport's executive director of operations, Steven Yiu, said the patrol car, at the time, was traveling on a road outside the runway enclosure "at a safe distance from the runway."
The plane then veered off the runway. It collided with the vehicle, pushing it into the sea, according to Mr. Yiu.
He stressed that the car "definitely didn't go out on the track."
"Normally, the plane should not turn towards the sea," Mr Yiu said at a press conference hours after the incident, adding that the plane did not send a distress signal when it was landing.
The two field workers who died were aged 30 and 41. They had seven and 12 years of experience, respectively, according to officials.
In a statement to the BBC, an Emirates spokesperson said the plane "suffered damage during landing in Hong Kong", adding: "The crew has been confirmed to be safe and there was no cargo on board".
It is also said that the Boeing 747-481 freighter was leased from and operated by Turkish carrier Act Airlines.
Photos show the plane had split into two, with part of the fuselage submerged in water with large visible cracks.
Lini një Përgjigje