HONG KONG- The Airport Authority Hong Kong announced that wreckage from the Air ACT (9T) cargo aircraft that crashed at Hong Kong International Airport (HKG) on Monday will be cleared within a week.
The Airport Authority claims that runway repairs have already been completed, and that clearance operations depend on weather conditions and the positioning of a marine crane barge needed to lift the Boeing 747-400 from the sea.
Wreckage of Hong Kong Plane Crash
The incident occurred in the early hours of October 20, when a Boeing 747-481 cargo jet operated by Air ACT (9T) veered off the north runway after striking a stationary airport patrol vehicle.
Both the aircraft and the vehicle plunged into the adjacent waters. Four crew members were evacuated through an emergency slide and transported to a local hospital, while two ground staff members were confirmed dead shortly after the crash.
Local authorities identified the deceased workers as long-serving airport employees with seven and twelve years of experience, respectively.
The Hong Kong Police and emergency teams coordinated rescue and recovery operations immediately after the crash, while airport operations on the affected runway were suspended for several hours.
Cleanup and Investigation
The Airport Authority confirmed that it had contacted Air ACT regarding its role in the cleanup process but opted to engage a marine salvage company directly to expedite removal efforts.
“Our goal is to remove the wreckage within a week,” Steven Yiu, Executive Director of Airport Operations at the Airport Authority, stated on a local television program (quoted in Hong Kong Free Press), emphasizing the need for swift action to minimize disruptions.
He also noted that while the airline remains responsible, the Authority would not delay recovery efforts waiting for an official response from Turkey, where Air ACT is registered.
Meanwhile, under the Transport and Logistics Bureau, the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) has launched a formal investigation into the crash.
According to Man Ka-chai, the Chief Accident and Safety Investigator, the aircraft did not send a distress signal before impact, which will be a key focus of the probe.
The decision follows a fatal runway accident that claimed two lives and disrupted early-morning operations at the busy aviation hub.
Bottom Line
The Hong Kong Airport Authority’s swift response underscores its commitment to restoring full operations and ensuring accountability after one of the city’s most serious aviation accidents in recent years.
As cleanup efforts proceed and investigators analyze flight data, officials aim to determine the cause of the crash and implement safety measures to prevent similar incidents in the future.
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