Grieving families identify bodies of airport security staff killed in cargo plane accident

The families of the two Aviation Security Company staff members, who were killed in a cargo plane accident at Hong Kong International Airport, identified the bodies of the deceased at the Kwai Chung Public Mortuary on Tuesday.

They were transported by a shuttle arranged by the Airport Authority to the mortuary at around 8.30am, where they stayed for over an hour.

The deceased included a 41-year-old security officer surnamed Ho, who was driving the patrol vehicle when it was struck by a plane that had skidded off the runway, and a 30-year-old security supervisor surnamed Chan, who was in the passenger seat.

Chan was the sole breadwinner for his family, which includes his one-year-old daughter, while Ho was also the primary provider for his wife and their seven-year-old son.

"He promised to go on a trip with me next month," the elder sister of Chan said, wailing in anguish before fainting and having to be taken away in a wheelchair.

She stated that the families have yet to receive any message of condolence or a statement from Emirates Airlines, the carrier involved in the incident.

Ho’s mother also urged the authorities to conduct a thorough investigation into the incident and also criticized Emirates Airlines for failing to offer condolences to the families.

"The child doesn't really understand what has happened, ans we must also pay close attention to his psychological development in the future," the grandmother of Ho’s seven-year-old son added.

She mentioned that the Aviation Security Company is assisting the family with the funeral arrangements, but they still feel anxious and uncertain about their future.

The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims urged the government to thoroughly investigate the incident and provide economic and housing support to the affected families to alleviate their burdens and help them overcome their grief.