Hong Kong’s AAIA Preliminary Report : ACT Airlines B747-481 BDSF Freighter Number 4 engine advanced to maximum Thrust (107% N1) after Landing .

• The AAIA has released initial findings on the runway excursion involving an ACT Airlines Boeing 747-400BDSF (Emirates SkyCargo UAE9788) at Hong Kong International Airport.
• After aircraft landed on RWY 07L, an AUTOBRAKES message appeared on EICAS.
• The captain took control as the aircraft began veering left, eventually leaving the runway near Taxiway C6 and colliding with a security vehicle, which was pushed into the sea.
• The aircraft was destroyed, with the tail separating during impact. All four crew survived; tragically, two security staff in the vehicle did not.

The AAIA that is responsible for the investigation of civil aircraft accidents and incidents in Hong Kong in accordance with the Hong Kong Civil Aviation (Investigation of Accidents) Regulations (Cap. 448B) and the SARPs of ICAO Annex 13, has released the Accident Investigation Preliminary Report and Public Notice on the accident involving Boeing 747-481 BDSF (Registration Mark TC-ACF)  at Hong Kong International Airport on 20 October 2025 . 

The freighter flight EK9788, operated by Turkish cargo airline Air ACT, did a Runway excursion while landing on the North runway at Hong Kong International Airport at around 19:50 GMT. The B747 aircraft moved through the airport fence and collided with a patrol car outside the runway, pushing the car into the sea.

•  Aircraft was dispatched with MEL items, including Number #4 thrust reverser inoperative.
• A normal approach and Flap 25 / Autobrake 2 landing was planned.
• After touchdown, reversers deployed on engines 1–3 as expected.
• Engine #4 unexpectedly advanced to full forward thrust (107% N1) during deceleration.
• Reverse thrust was re-applied after the aircraft left the runway.

What happened on that Day ?

At approximately 03:52 hours on 20 October 2025, an ACT Airlines (Air ACT) Boeing 747-481 BDSF freighter aircraft operated on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo (flight no. UAE9788) landed on Runway 07L at Hong Kong International Airport.

The co-pilot was the Pilot Flying and the captain was the Pilot Monitoring. After landing and when the aircraft was decelerating, an AUTOBRAKES message appeared in the Engine Indication and Crew Alerting System (EICAS) display in the cockpit.

The captain took over the control of the aircraft from the co-pilot. The aircraft veered off to the left, resulting in a runway excursion abeam Taxiway C6. The aircraft subsequently collided with a stationary security ground vehicle road.

The impact resulted in the ground vehicle entering the sea.  sea where it came to rest. In the course of the runway excursion, the aircraft destroyed various airport meteorological sensor arrays, signage, the ground vehicle and a section of the perimeter fence. The aircraft was destroyed.

The tail section separated from the aircraft during the impact sequence. All four crew members survived the accident. The two security staff in the ground vehicle perished.

At the time of the accident, the weather conditions were suitable for aircraft operation. Visibility was good, which was 10 km or more. All relevant communications, navigation and surveillance and air traffic control equipment/facilities were serviceable and operating normally.

Prior to the accident, there was no report of foreign objects on the runway, and communication between Air Traffic Control and the accident aircraft was normal.

The Runway 07L and the associated directional signage system has been in operational use since commissioning of the New North Runway (07L/25R) in November 2022. On the day of the accident, there was no report of damage to such signage system prior to the accident.

What could the Hong Kong Civil Aviation AAIA establish ?

The aircraft was dispatched with Minimum Equipment List1 (MEL) items which included; A Hydraulic System1 Reservoircockpit indication issue resolved by maintenance staff prior to the first departure of a flight day. Number 4 engine thrust reverser inoperative.  

After departure, the evidence available is consistent with a normal flight up to the runway excursion. An Autobrake 2 and Flap 25 landing was planned.

After completing a transition to the Instrument Landing System (ILS)2 of Runway (RWY) 07L, the aircraft was cleared to land by Air Traffic Control (ATC).

ATC also advised that the wind direction was 030 degrees 18 knots3 and instructed the crew that after landing to keep their speed up until vacating the runway.

The crew read back the landing clearance indicating that they would try their best. After touchdown the Speed Brake Lever 4 extended with the appropriate crew call.

Reverse thrust of approximately 95% N1 was selected on Number 2 and Number 3 engines with Number 1 engine selected to idle reverse with a crew call Reversers Normal.

An AUTOBRAKES message appeared in the EICAS display. The Autobrake disarmed and a crew call "Manual Braking" was made.

The captain took control of the aircraft. Subsequently, the following data is observed from the Flight Data Recorder:

• Number 4 engine accelerated to 90% N1 forward thrust at 03:52:30 hours. All selected thrust reversers were stowed at 03:52:35 hours.
• Number 4 engine continued to accelerate to approximately 106% N1 forward thrust at 03:52:36 hours and ended up at 107% N1 at 03:52:42 hours.
• Reverse thrust of approximately 92% N1 was again selected on Number 2 engine at 03:52:41 hours.
• Number 1 and Number 3 engine thrust reversers were also deployed reaching reverse thrust of approximately 83% N1 and 91% N1 respectively.
• Those thrust reverser selections occurred after the aircraft had veered off the runway.

By October 30th, the wreckage of the Air ACT B744 Freighter were recovered as authorities utilized two barges for the recovery effort next to the North Runway.