Hong Kong airport and rescue authorities have reaffirmed their confidence in the airport’s safety protocols after a cargo plane crashed into the sea early on October 20, killing two, the BBC reports.

The incident occurred at around 03:50 local time during one of the airport’s busiest cargo flight periods. The Hong Kong International Airport, the world’s busiest air cargo hub in 2024, handled about 429,000 tonnes of cargo in September alone.

According to officials, the cargo aircraft veered off Runway 07L upon landing, broke through the perimeter fence and collided with a patrol car positioned outside the runway, pushing it into the sea. The two security personnel in the vehicle were killed. The aircraft then split into two sections, but all four crew members escaped after breaking open the door and were rescued from the water.

Authorities stated that illuminated taxiway signs were functioning correctly and that the instructions provided to the plane were accurate the BBC reported. They also confirmed that the runway conditions were safe for operation at the time. The north runway remains closed pending safety assessments, while other runways continue to operate normally.

Investigators are searching for the aircraft’s black boxes to determine the cause of the crash. Police have not ruled out the possibility of a criminal investigation.

In Hong Kong, the Transport and Logistics Bureau expressed deep concern over the accident and extended condolences to the victims’ families. Representatives from the airline and the aircraft’s owner are travelling to Hong Kong to assist in the recovery and removal of the wreckage.

An investigation is ongoing, with officials maintaining that the airport was not at fault.