ACT Airlines Boeing 747-481F plane crash

The Boeing 747-481 BDSF operated by ACT Airlines on behalf of Emirates SkyCargo was performing cargo flight UAE9788 from Dubai (United Arab Emirates) to Hong Kong (China). Four crew members were on board. After landing at Hong Kong International Airport, the aircraft veered off the runway, broke through the airport perimeter fence and came to rest partially in the sea. All four crew members survived. Two airport security officers, who were in a vehicle struck by the aircraft, were killed.

The accident occurred at around 3:52 a.m. local time. The first officer was the pilot flying for the landing, while the captain was monitoring. After touchdown, an autobrake alert appeared and the crew switched to manual braking.

The thrust reverser on engine No. 4 was inoperative at the time of the accident. It had been declared inoperative in accordance with the Minimum Equipment List (MEL). After landing, the crew received a message on the engine-indicating and crew-alerting system indicating that the autobrakes had disconnected, prompting the captain to take control and begin manual braking. The thrust reversers on engines No. 2 and No. 3 were activated to 90% reverse thrust, while the thrust reverser on engine No. 1 was selected to idle reverse. Thirty seconds after touchdown, engine No. 4 spooled up to 95% forward thrust, causing the aircraft to swerve to the left. The crew then deactivated the thrust reversers in an attempt to restore balanced thrust between the engines. Engine No. 4 nevertheless continued to accelerate, reaching 106% forward thrust. The aircraft then veered off the runway and the thrust reversers were reactivated. The aircraft subsequently struck a stationary airport security vehicle on a service road, forcing the vehicle into the sea. During the runway excursion, the aircraft also damaged several airport meteorological sensors, signs and a section of the perimeter fence. The tail section separated from the aircraft during the crash.

The Boeing 747 was registered TC-ACF. Built in 1993 and later converted into a freighter, it was destroyed in the accident.