A cargo plane from Dubai skidded into the sea after hitting a vehicle when landing at the Hong Kong International Airport early on Monday morning, leaving two people dead.

Two ground staff members died after the vehicle they were riding fell into the sea when it was hit by the B744 cargo plane, the Air Accident Investigation Authority (AAIA) said.

The cargo plane’s four crew members were sent to the hospital and were later confirmed safe. Emirates said in a statement that flight EK9788 sustained damage and was a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft wet-leased from and operated by ACT Airlines.

The accident occurred at around 3:50 am, when the cargo plane, arriving from Al Maktoum International Airport, United Arab Emirates, veered off the north runway after landing, according to the Civil Aviation Department.

“Air traffic control personnel immediately notified the Airport Authority and other rescue units according to the established procedures,” the CAD said.

One of the ground staff members who fell into the sea was declared dead at the scene while the other was brought to the North Lantau Hospital but later died, local media reported.  

The northern runway at the world's busiest cargo airport is closed after the incident, Hong Kong International Airport said, adding the south and central runways would continue to operate.

A spokesperson for the AAIA said that an investigation team is currently collecting data and information to determine the circumstances and causes of the accident.

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ACT Airlines is a Turkish carrier that provides extra cargo capacity to major airlines. It did not respond immediately to a request for comment outside normal business hours.

Flight tracking service FlightRadar24 said the aircraft involved in the accident was 32 years old and had served as a passenger plane before being converted into a freighter.

With inputs from Agencies