Saturday, September 4, 2010

UPS 747-44AF goes down in Dubai

UPS 747-44AF/SCD (35668/1393) N571UP the aircraft involved in the crash is seen arriving in Anchorage (ANC/PANC) on May 5, 2008.
(Photo by Michael Carter)

UPS has comfirmed that Boeing 747-44AF/SCD, registration N571UP performing flight 5X-6 from Dubai International (DXB/OMDB) - United Arab Emirates to Cologne/Bonn (CGN/EDDK) - Germany, was returning to Dubai's runway 30L after declaring emergency, when the airplane crashed onto a free space west of Dubai Silicon Oasis and Al-Ain Highway (E66) about half way between Emirates Road (E311) and Outer Bypass Road (E611) at about 20:00L (16:00Z). Sadly Both crew perished in the crash.

An airport official said, the crew reported technical problems while on approach to Dubai.

An United Arab Emirates official said, the crew reported fire on board while on approach to Dubai.

United Arab Emirates General Aviation Civil Authority said, that the bodies of both pilots have been recovered.

Residents of Dubai Silicon Oasis said, the airplane crashed right in front of their apartment blocks.

Aviation sources in Dubai report, that the crew declared emergency reporting a fire in the cockpit shortly after takeoff and attempted to return to the airport dumping fuel. The airplane was seen flying very low at a shallow descent until impact, where the airplane erupted in a large fire ball. Several buildings, apparently all of them under construction, have been set on fire by the crash.

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