Hong Kong’s Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) released its preliminary report late on 19 November into last month’s fatal runway excursion involving an ACT Airlines Boeing 747 freighter operating for Emirates. The jet landed normally from Dubai but veered off Runway 07L when its No. 4 engine suddenly accelerated to more than 100 % thrust even as the other three engines deployed reversers. The aircraft struck an airside security vehicle, killing two Airport Authority contractors.
Investigators confirmed the engine’s thrust reverser had been inoperative—a condition permitted under the minimum-equipment list—but stressed that uncommanded acceleration after touchdown is “highly unusual.” Flight-data recorders captured disengagement of autobrakes seconds before the captain took manual control.
![Engine Surge Blamed for Hong Kong Cargo-Plane Runway Crash That Killed Two Workers]()
The accident is the first ground-fatality at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) since 2010 and has immediate operational ramifications. HKIA has imposed temporary speed limits for ground vehicles within 150 metres of active runways and ordered all cargo carriers to re-confirm reverser-status MEL compliance before departure.
Insurance and mobility impact: The closure of Runway 07L for debris removal caused a six-hour backlog, delaying more than 40 passenger flights and disrupting crew-rotation schedules for expatriate pilots who rely on tight visa-stay windows. Logistics firms moving high-value semiconductor cargo reported missed connections onto Asia-Europe freighters, triggering penalty clauses.
The AAIA will next analyse engine-control software and maintenance records; a final report is expected within 12 months. Companies with time-critical shipments via HKIA should build additional buffer until runway-capacity stabilises.
Investigators confirmed the engine’s thrust reverser had been inoperative—a condition permitted under the minimum-equipment list—but stressed that uncommanded acceleration after touchdown is “highly unusual.” Flight-data recorders captured disengagement of autobrakes seconds before the captain took manual control.
The accident is the first ground-fatality at Hong Kong International Airport (HKIA) since 2010 and has immediate operational ramifications. HKIA has imposed temporary speed limits for ground vehicles within 150 metres of active runways and ordered all cargo carriers to re-confirm reverser-status MEL compliance before departure.
Insurance and mobility impact: The closure of Runway 07L for debris removal caused a six-hour backlog, delaying more than 40 passenger flights and disrupting crew-rotation schedules for expatriate pilots who rely on tight visa-stay windows. Logistics firms moving high-value semiconductor cargo reported missed connections onto Asia-Europe freighters, triggering penalty clauses.
The AAIA will next analyse engine-control software and maintenance records; a final report is expected within 12 months. Companies with time-critical shipments via HKIA should build additional buffer until runway-capacity stabilises.
