Hercules Flight PK-PLV from Hong Kong.

In 1996 Hong Kong was approaching the time for handing back owner ship from Britain back to China.
China had lent the British Hong Kong in 1842 after the opium war, before the hand over could go ahead there was a small problem of what to do with the Vietnamese boat people who had escaped from communist Vietnam and were interned in Hong Kong and had been there for some time.These Vietnamese refugees lived in very overcrowded holding camps while their history and identities were being checked, some of the boat people had been processed and sent onto other countries.

The Governor Chris Patten, decided those remaining in the months leading up to the handover would be returned to Hanoi.

There was much local protesting, but the Hong Kong Government remained firm with their decision.
A private Hercules transport aircraft from Pelita Air Services had been hired to begin the task of returning the boat people to Hanoi.
Each flight contained a number of Hong Kong officials to assist with the process of the handover.
At the end of the month long operation these officials were flown back to Hong Kong’s Kai Tak airport.
The transport aircraft was fueled with 45,000lbs of fuel, the second (B crew) crew waiting in Hong Kong took charge of the transport and with both A & B flight crews on board for the return flight to its base in Thailand with a total of 12 on board.

The aircraft ready for flight joined the usual line of Jumbos to wait its turn for take off fron KaiTak airport.
After almost 18 minutes it was given clearance to line up and with a roar as each of the 4 engines spooled up to 5000lb torque the brakes were released and it began to move down the runway.

A call to the control tower from the next British Jumbo in line waiting for permission to use the active runway asked the controllers a minute or so later, if they would like them to hold position?
The tower queried the reason for the requested delay?

The waiting BA Jumbo replied politely, to allow the rescue vehicles to cross the runway, as the departing Hercules aircraft had just taken off, banked to the right and a wing briefly touched the grass verge the aircraft was now disappearing rapidly below the water in Hong Hong Harbor.

Of the 12 persons on board only 6 survived, the accident investigation revealed the propeller on no4 engine (extreme right) went to Beta mode shortly after the wheels left the runway (Ground Mode going to fine pitch and increasing the drag) possible cause, a broken throttle cable.