Hong Kong: A cargo aircraft skidded off a Hong Kong airport runway into the sea when landing early Monday, with two people confirmed dead.

The flight, arriving from Dubai, was landing at Hong Kong International Airport around 3.50 am, according to Hong Kong’s airport authority.

Four crew members on the plane were rescued and taken to a hospital. Initial reports from police said two people in an airport ground vehicle were killed.

Emirates said the Boeing 747 freighter flying as EK9788 was wet leased and operated by Turkish cargo carrier Act Airlines. In wet leases, the company supplying the plane also provides the crew, maintenance and insurance. The airline said there was cargo on board.

"Preliminary information indicates that the four crew members on board were rescued and sent to hospital, while two ground staff were affected and fell into the sea," Hong Kong's Civil Aviation Department said.

The accident, which took place at around 3:50 am local time (1950 GMT Sunday), left the aircraft's nose resting above water with its tail broken off.

The plane struck a ground vehicle, which also fell into the sea, authorities said.

A 30-year-old man aboard the ground vehicle was confirmed dead at the scene while another, aged 41, died after being rushed to hospital.

The airport's north runway was temporarily closed on Monday, while the other two runways remained operational.

A spokesman for the Transport and Logistics Bureau expressed deep concern over the incident, adding that the Air Accident Investigation Authority will "actively investigate the cause of the accident".

Helicopters from the Government Flying Service and vessels from the Fire Services Department have been deployed, according to media reports.

A dozen cargo flights have been cancelled throughout Monday, but passenger flights appeared to be unaffected, the South China Morning Post reported.

Hong Kong began flight operations on its third runway last November, with the city's airport being among the busiest in the world.

The expansion project cost HK$142 billion ($18 billion) and took eight years of construction, with officials saying it would keep the city's airport competitive as an aviation hub.

(with inputs from AP and AFP)