Black box retrieved from fatal Emirates cargo plane crash in HK

Hong Kong Airport Authority's salvage team succeeded in retrieving the submerged tail of the cargo plane, believed to contain the black box, offering hope of unraveling the mystery behind the aircraft's sudden left turn and crash into the sea.

Salvage efforts intensified on Friday at Hong Kong International Airport, where the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 747 freighter, operated by Air ACT, crashed into the sea after veering off the north runway during landing on October 20. 

The incident resulted in the deaths of two airport security staff when the plane struck their patrol vehicle, sending it into the water. 

The Guangzhou Salvage Bureau’s vessel "Nan Tian Xiang" arrived at the crash site around 9am yesterday, followed by the "Nan Tian Peng" later that evening, launching immediate efforts to recover the aircraft’s wreckage.

According to observations from a boat on Friday morning, noted that the "Nan Tian Xiang," "Nan Tian Peng," and a tugboat were positioned near the submerged wreckage, hoisting suspected engine parts with cranes. 

Shoreline workers in reflective vests monitored the operation closely. By 4.30pm, salvage work continued, with significant aircraft debris visible on the "Nan Tian Xiang"s deck. 

The vessels, with lifting capacities of 350 and 500 tons, respectively, brought a team of approximately 80 professionals, including divers, machinery operators, crew, and engineers, equipped with specialized tools to handle the complex recovery.

(Updated at 12.22am)