The black box flight recorders from an aircraft involved in a crash that killed two people at Hong Kong airport earlier this week have been recovered, authorities said Saturday.

A Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft is retrieved from the sea
A Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft is retrieved from the sea after it skidded into the sea whilst landing, killing two ground staff, on October 20, 2025. Photo: Handout/Airport Authority.

The Boeing cargo plane veered off the runway during landing early Monday morning, then hit a security patrol car and skidded into the sea.

It was one of the most serious incidents since the airport began operations in 1998.

Two security staff were killed in the incident, with authorities saying they had been in a safe position “outside the runway area”.

A Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft is retrieved from the sea
A Boeing 747-400 cargo aircraft is retrieved from the sea after it skidded into the sea whilst landing, killing two ground staff, on October 20, 2025. Photo: Handout/Airport Authority.

Airport Authority Hong Kong said Saturday one of the engines and the landing gear have been salvaged along with data recorders.

The city’s transport and logistics bureau said it will release a preliminary investigation report within one month.

Authorities added that the American and Turkish civil aviation accident investigative agencies, and experts from Boeing, are participating in the investigation.

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Emirates Airlines said the plane was on a short-term lease from the Istanbul-headquartered Act Airlines, which operated the aircraft.

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