In the early hours of Tuesday, February 6, 2024, a worker on the ground at Hong Kong International Airport lost his life due to an accident that occurred during an aircraft towing operation.

The victim, a 34-year-old Jordanian man working for China Aircraft Services, was declared dead at the location. He suffered fatal injuries after he fell off a tow truck and was subsequently run over by the plane it was towing.

Around 3 a.m., the Hong Kong Police Force received an emergency call about an unconscious man found on one of the airport’s taxiways, a critical area for ground operations involving aircraft.

Early findings from the investigation indicate that the worker was seated on the passenger side of the tow truck without a securely fastened seat belt when he fell from the vehicle. The driver of the tow truck, a 60-year-old man, has been detained by authorities under suspicion of causing death by dangerous driving.

Following the incident, the Airport Authority and China Aircraft Services have taken immediate action. Both organizations have reiterated their dedication to workplace safety and extended their sympathies to the family of the deceased.

As a result of this accident, the Airport Authority is contemplating a review and potential enhancements to its safety procedures to further protect its employees.

Ground handling tasks at airports, including towing, refueling, and maintenance, must adhere to stringent international and local standards. China Aircraft Services, the employer of the victim, has been a prominent provider of these services since 1994, serving a wide variety of airline clients. 

Hong Kong International Airport, a significant hub for both cargo and passenger flights, is now reevaluating its safety policies to prevent such incidents in the future, with the welfare of its workforce being a primary concern.

The Airport Air Freight Employees’ Association, along with the wider airport community, has expressed sorrow over the incident and offered support to the grieving family.