Hong Kong
AP
—
An investigation into last month’s deadly cargo plane crash in Hong Kong has found that the plane’s engines accelerated after landing, according to a preliminary report released Tuesday.
A Boeing 747 operated by Turkey-based ACT Airlines from Dubai skidded after landing on October 20, colliding with a security police car and sending both vehicles into the sea. Two workers in the car were killed. The four crew members of the plane were not injured.
The Hong Kong Transport and Logistics Department wrote in a Facebook post that existing evidence shows that the flight and conditions including weather, runway and air traffic control were all normal before the plane deviated.
According to the Air Accident Investigation Bureau’s preliminary report, the plane’s No. 4 engine accelerated after landing.
An inspection of the flight deck revealed that the thrust levers for engines 1, 2, and 3 were closed, and the reverse thrust lever was set to maximum.
“The No. 4 engine’s thrust lever was in the fully forward thrust position. The No. 4 engine’s reverse thrust lever was in the fully forward thrust position,” the report said.
The agency said the investigation will focus on why the thrust lever on engine number 4 was in the position it was in, including whether there was a problem that caused it to lose control.
Investigators will collect further data and conduct an analysis focusing on issues such as the aircraft’s systems and performance, engine condition, maintenance records and human factors.
The agency said investigators aim to complete a comprehensive report within a year. The agency added that it was assisted by Boeing experts as well as representatives from Turkey’s National Transportation Safety Research Center and the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board.
The aircraft was operated on lease from Dubai-based long-haul airline Emirates.
