A cargo plane skidded off the runway at Hong Kong International Airport and fell into the sea. It hit a patrol car, causing it to fall into the sea. Two ground staff members in the car were killed. The four crew members on board were rescued unharmed.

According to the BBC report, Emirates cargo flight EK-9788 from Dubai skidded off the runway and collided with an airport patrol car while landing at 3:50 a.m. local time, killing two people in the patrol car.

The image shows the plane broken in two from the middle. Part of the plane is submerged in water and large cracks are visible.

Within minutes of the incident, the four crew members on board the plane broke through the emergency door and escaped. Firefighters arrived at the scene within two minutes, found them, and rescued them. The airport authorities have launched an investigation into the incident. Airport officials claim that the cargo plane was given proper instructions and that there are directional signs for planes on the runway.

Airport Operations Executive Director Steven Yao said the patrol car that was involved in the accident was operating on a road outside the runway safety boundary. It was also a safe distance from the runway. He added that the aircraft veered off the runway and collided with the patrol car, which fell into the sea along with the car. He claimed that the car was not on the runway.

Hong Kong's Transport Department expressed deep sorrow over their deaths and offered condolences to the families of the victims.

This is the second fatal air accident at Hong Kong International Airport since it was relocated from Kai Tak to Chek Lap Kok in July 1998. In August 1999, a China Airlines passenger plane made an emergency landing during a typhoon, killing three people.