Technical examinations have so far found no aircraft-part fault related to the fatal cargo-plane crash at Hong Kong International Airport, the Air Accident Investigation Authority says. The reason the No. 4 engine thrust lever moved forward remains under investigation.
The Emirates cargo aircraft veered off the airport’s north runway while landing on October 20, 2025, struck a patrol vehicle and went into the sea. The two airport security personnel in the vehicle died.
A preliminary report published the following month said the No. 4 engine had a problem before take-off and its reverse-thrust device was not operating, although the aircraft was still permitted to fly under the applicable rules. HK01 said the engine was accelerating during landing and the thrust lever was in the full-forward position.
The authority says its team has completed major investigative work, including recovering wreckage and gathering relevant records from the airline, weather services, air traffic control and the airport. Aircraft components, including the onboard recording system, were sent overseas for examination, with investigators travelling to supervise important inspections.
Investigators are using expert sound-spectrum analysis to determine whether the thrust lever moved forward through mechanical action or an external force. They also plan a flight simulation to reconstruct the runway excursion and a review of accidents involving the same aircraft type.
An authority spokesperson expects the investigation to be completed by the end of 2026. The final report will be published once investigative work and statutory review procedures are complete.