Hong Kong reopened the runway Tuesday where a cargo plane crashed into the sea the previous day, though officials said it will remain out of regular use until the wreckage is fully cleared.
The Boeing 747, operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines on a flight from Dubai, veered off the runway in the early hours of Monday and collided with a patrol car, sending both into the sea. Two workers in the car were killed, while the four crew members aboard the plane were unharmed.
Airport authorities said repairs to the runway and fencing are complete, and initial evidence has been collected. However, the cockpit voice and flight data recorders have not yet been recovered. The runway is now on standby, allowing limited landings but not regular flight operations.
Cleanup efforts have been delayed by Tropical Storm Fengshen, with authorities aiming to remove the wreckage within a week, weather permitting. Investigators continue to examine the cause of the crash, with weather and runway conditions reportedly meeting standards.
Transport Secretary Mable Chan said an initial investigation report is expected within a month. Monday’s crash was ACT Airlines’ second fatal incident, following a 2017 crash in Kyrgyzstan that killed 39 people.