Main Page / Special Project / Aircraft accident at Hong Kong International Airport in 1999

Background, Rescue Operation, Feeling (form Chief Staff Officer of AMS)

At around 1845 hours, the Air Traffic Control Tower (ATC) at the airport activated the 'crash alarm' of the Airport Fire Contingent (AFC). Fourteen fire appliances and two ambulances from the AFC Main and Sub-Fire Stations responded, and they arrived at the scene of crash within 1 minute (i.e. 1846 hours). While speeding to the crash scene, drivers of fire appliances had to overcome very low visibility due to torrential rain and erratic surface winds. They had to be extremely cautious on approaching, because of the presence of strewn debris and moving people who at that time were starting to escape from the wrecked aircraft.

Upon arrival at the scene of incident, firemen found the passenger aircraft MD-11 fully overturned and lying on the grass area between taxiways J6 & J7. Its starboard wing was detached from the fuselage. The fuselage was engulfed in flames particularly in the region of the starboard wing, tail end and port wing. The No.2 engine (from the tail) was also found detached and burning on the ground to the right of the aircraft's tail. In front of the nose of the aircraft, a long trail of about 100 x 20m of spilt fuel was burning vigorously. Large patches of spilt aviation fuel was burning underneath and around the aircraft. 

Fire fighting and rescue operations commenced immediately, and the fire on the aeroplane was brought under control within 2 minutes and suppressed within 5 minutes. The fire in the vicinity of the aeroplane was completely extinguished within 15 minutes.

At the same time, the ATC also alerted the Fire Services Communication Centre (FSCC). In accordance with laid down procedures, the FSCC immediately dispatched reinforcing fire appliances from other units outside the airport, including Chek Lap Kok and Tung Chung Fire Stations. The first reinforcing fire appliance arrived at the airport six minutes later (1852 hours), followed closely by all the others. 

At about 1951 hours, the Staff Officer of Auxiliary Medical Service (AMS) was informed by FSCC that the captioned aircraft accident occured at 1845 hours at the Airport. AMS operation activated at 1855 hours.

Passengers evacuated the aeroplane through various exits which included a large gap in the fuselage at the mid left door, which had been torn open by the impact, as well as through the overwing left door and the forward right door. The first fireman who entered the cabin via the forward right door around 3 minutes after arrival at the scene described that there was smoke and a smell of jet fuel but the fire inside the cabin had extinguished. Firemen wearing breathing apparatus entered the cabin to release passengers who were still strapped in their seats in the inverted position. The search and rescue operation inside the aeroplane was constrained by the narrow space, and the absence of a gangway. Approximately 8 minutes after arrival at the scene, some 200 passengers had been rescued and led to safety at a temporary collection point on the runway. Two passengers rescued from the wreckage were certified dead before arrival at hospital, and one passenger died five days later in the hospital.

The ambulance crews set up a 1st Casualty Clearing Station at taxiway J6 to provide medical treatment to the casualties on spot. However due to exceptionally adverse weather conditions, one of the ambulances was re-established as the 1st Casualty Clearing Station and triage was started inside the ambulance. The ambulance crews raced to render treatment to casualties, assisted later by reinforcing teams. 

At about 1911 hours, the first ambulance started to covey 5 casualties for Princess Margaret Hospital, and they arrived at the hospital at 1946 hours, slightly over an hour after the initial call was received. 

At about 1918 hours, the FSCC requested moblization of the Auxiliary Medical Service Ambulances with crew to the scene. 14 Ambulances and 389 AMS members have be sent to the scene since 1943 hours.

To help the meeters and greeters of the passengers on CI642, the AA set up a reception centre at the northern end of the Meeters and Greeters Hall of the Passenger Terminal Building (PTB) in accordance with the relevant emergency procedures. The centre was in operation between 19:30 to 23:30. It was manned by 4 China Airlines staff and 8 AA staff under the leadership of AA's General Manager - Terminal Operations. Enhanced access and crowd control at PTB was provided by the Aviation Security Co. Ltd., the Police and AA Terminal Operations staff. Announcements were made on a regular basis to ask the meeters and greeters to contact the AA Information Counter on Level 5 of the PTB, who were then invited to the reception centre for registration. After registration, they were escorted by China Airlines/AA staff to the congregation centre in the Regal Airport Hotel for meeting the uninjured passengers, who had been escorted from the airside to the hotel direct. As regards the injured passengers, hospital information was also provided to meeters and greeters. 

A 2nd Casualty Clearing Station was established at taxiway J6 at 1945 hours. A temporary mortuary was set up with the useof an ambulance, and a triage point was set up at the APV Lounge on ground floor of the Passenger Terminal Building N21.More than a hundred passengers were ferried to the triage point by Airport Shuttle Buses. The Ambulance Triage Officer sortedout casualties according to their degree of injuries and arranged their conveyance to hospital after primary treatment. 

Airport Port Health Officer with his nurse from the Department of Health and the doctor and nurses from the airport privateclinic were sent to the scene and APV lounge as first medical team. Two Medical Teams, from Princess Margaret Hospital andQueen Elizabeth Hospital also attended the scene of incident to render medical treatment at the Mobile Casualty TreatmentCentre. 

AMS Ambulance started to carry casualties, 3 casualties arrived at A&E (QEH) at 2014 hours.

At 2045 hours, The Chief Staff Officer of AMS and Chief Operation Officer arrived the scene and took over the in-charge. At the same time, some members went to the Accident & Emergency Room of Queen Elizabeth Hospital and Princess Margaret Hospital for reinforcement.

The last passenger was rescued from the wreckage at about 2102 hours. Search and rescue operations continued until about 0335 hours when confirmation was received from the Police that all persons had been accounted for. 

Background, Rescue Operation, Feeling (form Chief Staff Officer of AMS)