Hong Kong Runway Set to Reopen After Cargo Plane Crash

Hong Kong authorities are preparing to reopen the runway at Hong Kong International Airport where a cargo aircraft crashed on March 11, 2024. While the runway will be available for emergency landings, it will not be included in regular flight schedules until the wreckage is completely cleared from the area.

The incident involved a Boeing 747 operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines, which skidded off the runway after landing in the early hours of Monday. The aircraft collided with a patrol car, leading to both vehicles plunging into the sea. Tragically, two workers in the patrol car died, while four crew members on the plane sustained no visible injuries.

Steven Yiu, the executive director for airport operations, informed Radio Television Hong Kong that repairs to the runway and damaged fencing have been completed. Investigators have begun collecting initial evidence from the scene, although the cockpit voice recorder and flight data recorder have yet to be retrieved.

Authorities aim to place the runway on standby status, which allows for emergency landings but limits its use in regular flight planning. Yiu indicated that this status could take effect from noon on March 12, 2024. However, the runway will remain non-operational until the wreckage is fully removed from the surrounding waters.

Plans are underway to coordinate with barge companies for the removal of the wreckage, but operations are currently hindered by the effects of Tropical Storm Fengshen. Yiu stated that the airport anticipates completing the removal of the aircraft and the patrol car, along with related operations, within a week, depending on weather conditions.

Following the clearance, investigators will continue their work to determine the cause of the crash. Yiu mentioned that both weather and runway conditions complied with safety standards during the incident, while mechanical and human factors are still under investigation.

This crash marks a significant incident for ACT Airlines, as it is not the first fatal event involving the airline. In 2017, a Boeing 747 operated by ACT Airlines, under the name MyCargo, crashed while attempting to land in foggy conditions in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. That crash resulted in the deaths of all four crew members and 35 individuals on the ground. A subsequent report attributed the cause of that incident to human error, citing fatigue among the crew and a misjudgment of the aircraft’s position during landing.

As the investigation continues, authorities emphasize their commitment to ensuring the safety and reliability of operations at Hong Kong International Airport.