Hong Kong International Airport has re-opened its North Runway following an incident that saw two airport workers lose their lives after a Boeing 747 Freighter veered off the runway into the sea.
The Airport Authority Hong Kong (AAHK) said the runway was opened yesterday afternoon but had been put into standby mode to facilitate the removal of the aircraft from the sea.
“The rescue operation was completed at around noon [on Monday], while the relevant authorities also finished collecting evidence at around 16:00hrs on the same day,” AAHK said in a statement.
“AAHK immediately started the clean-up and restoration work on the North Runway, including replacing the damaged fences on the side of the runway, runway lights and other facilities, as well as repairing and clearing the runway’s surface, among others.”
Before the runway could be opened, fences, runway lights and other facilities needed to be repaired, while the runway surface needed to be cleared and repaired.
“AAHK, together with Civil Aviation Department, inspected the site and confirmed the runway is safe for operations and reopening,” the airport authority said.
“As the aircraft remains in the waters adjacent to the runway, the North Runway will be temporarily on standby mode, so as to facilitate the removal operation. AAHK is coordinating the removal operation, including contacting the aircraft’s owner and preparing the necessary equipment, such as large cranes and vessels,” it added.
The ACT Airlines flight (UAE9788) was operating from Dubai’s Al-Maktoum International on behalf of Emirates and landed in Hong Kong at just after 03:50 local time on 20 October.
The aircraft (TC-ACF) was carrying four crew members and is suspected to have lost control upon landing and veered off the North Runway before crashing through a fence into the sea, according to AAHK.
“At the time of the runway excursion, a patrol car from the Aviation Security Company Limited, with two airport security staff was carrying out patrolling duty on the perimeter road outside the runway zone. The patrol car fell into the waters after being hit by the aircraft,” AAHK said.
One of the security staff was certified dead at the scene while the other was certified dead at the hospital.
