Emirates Flight Crashes, Catches Fire Upon Landing at DXB
Jackie Reddy August 03, 2016
All 300 people on-board escaped unharmed in the incident, but it has been reported that one firefighter has been killed while tackling the blaze.
An Emirates flight has crash-landed before bursting into flames at Dubai International Airport (DXB). The incident involved Emirates Flight EK521 and occurred at 12:45 p.m. local time on Wednesday, as the Boeing 777 was on approach to land from India’s Trivandrum International Airport (TVR).
In footage released by the BBC, the plane appears to have landed on its belly and the aircraft’s emergency slides are visible through black plumes of smoke. The video also captures the moment an explosion rips through the hull of the aircraft.
In an official statement, Emirates confirmed the incident and said that, “all passengers and crew were evacuated safely due to the quick response of the teams at Emirates and Dubai International Airport.”
Flight EK521 was carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members at the time of the incident, but it has emerged that 13 people have been treated for minor injuries as a consequence of the crash landing. While all escaped via the craft’s emergency exit slides, one firefighter was killed as he helped to tackle the blaze.
In a statement released via YouTube, His Highness Ahmed bin Saeed al-Maktoum, chairman, stated that, “Our thoughts are with everyone involved.”
Speaking to Reuters, passenger Sharon Maryam Sharji said, “It was actually really terrifying. As we were landing there was smoke coming out in the cabin. People were screaming and we had a very hard landing. We left by going down the emergency slides and as we were leaving on the runway we could see the whole plane catch fire.”
DXB was closed for several hours in the aftermath of the incident, but operations at the airport have since resumed.
The cause of the crash has not yet been ascertained, but Emirates has said that it, “is fully collaborating with local authorities to determine the cause of the incident.”
[Photo: Reuters]
MaxVO, I wasn't a member in here, until I read your comment and fury fuled me to become one, so that I could reply to your moronic comment......are you honestly saying that in a case where a 300-pax airplane is about to blow up, you would have the time to wait for everyone to get their belongings??? I guess it would be a great feeling, having your passport and wallet in your hand, laying in a Dubai morgue or hospital with 3rd degree burns......if we ever met in the row of a burning aircraft and you reached for your bags, rest assured that I would punch you unconscious, drag you to the slides and throw you down in front of me!!!!
The video shows that most coach pax were not leaving without their bags. Can't really blame them, as it could be months if ever before the investigators release their stuff. And it's no fun being stranded without passports, money and such.