Hong Kong’s Airport Authority (AAHK) said it aims to reopen the North Runway by noon on Tuesday, following yesterday’s dramatic crash of an cargo plane that skidded off the runway and plunged into the sea. The black box has been located at the tail section of the aircraft, officials confirmed.
(Read more: Two ground staff killed after Dubai cargo plane crashes off runway at HK airport, hits service vehicle)
Steven Yiu Siu-chung, Executive Director of Airport Operations at AAHK, said on a radio program this morning that repair work on the damaged fence and minor runway cracks was completed by 7am. The runway will reopen at noon at the earliest but remain in standby mode until the Civil Aviation Department confirms full compliance with flight safety standards.
Yiu explained that the crashed aircraft remains near the shoreline, with barge and engineering crews still working nearby, so the runway will only serve as a backup for now.
He added that the authority has identified the black box and contacted local and Guangzhou salvage companies to lift the wreckage once the current storm passes, with a goal to complete all recovery operations within a week. The aircraft, which is deemed a total loss, will be dismantled and handled as scrap.
Tragically, two AAHK employees were killed when their patrol vehicle was struck and forced into the sea by the skidding plane.
Yiu said the patrol team was responsible for guarding the coastal perimeter of the North Runway and was operating within a safe zone, separated from the runway by a wire fence and located 162 meters from the centerline, exceeding the 150-meter minimum distance set by the Civil Aviation Department.
Weather and runway friction levels were both within operational standards at the time, he added, calling the aircraft’s sudden left turn during landing “very strange” and likely a key focus of the investigation.
The airport’s security contractor has formed a support team to reach out to the victims’ families, offering assistance and counseling services to affected staff.
Meanwhile, industry figures have raised concerns about the airline’s safety record.
Steven Cheung King-lung, Chairman of the Hong Kong Professional Airline Pilots Association, said both human error and mechanical issues could have contributed, citing potential front-wheel or tailplane malfunctions.
He noted that AirACT, the Turkish cargo airline involved, has a history of safety incidents and urged investigators to examine crew training, rest periods, and aircraft maintenance practices.
Li Wing-foo, vice-chairman of the Staffs and Workers Union of Hong Kong Civil Airlines, expressed deep regret over the deaths of the two airport employees, describing both as breadwinners for their families.
The union is coordinating with AAHK to support the families and called for a review of patrol, maintenance, and other procedures involving staff working near active runways to enhance safety.
Grieving family members visited the mortuary in Kwai Chung on Tuesday morning to identify the bodies. They criticized the airline for failing to reach out or offer condolences, accusing it of shirking responsibility.
One relative said the 30-year-old male victim supported his parents, wife, and one-year-old daughter, and urged authorities to uncover the truth without concealment and ensure the airline provides reasonable compensation to both bereaved families.
