United Parcel Service - UPS Boeing 747-44AF plane crash
Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Updated on
The Boeing 747-400 freighter belonging to United Parcel Service (UPS) took off from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, for a cargo flight to Köln, Germany. 2 crewmember were onboard. The plane crashed shortly after take off, killing both crewmembers.
The plane crashed while attempting to land at Dubai International Airport, from where the airplane had departed about 45 minutes earlier. Shortly after takeoff, the crew declared emergency reporting a fire and smoke in the cockpit, and performed an emergency descent. They requested an immediate return to Dubai. Later they reported they were unable to read their instruments and were unable to change frequency asking for frequent updates on their altitude and speed from ATC. They were vectored for a straight in approach to Dubai's runway 12L. Being too high and too fast for landing they were offered to divert to Sharjah or join a right hand downwind for another visual approach to runway 12L.
About 20 minutes after declaring emergency, the airplane impacted ground in an unpopulated area of Dubai outskirts, near a busy highway intersection south-east of Dubai airport. The airplane erupted in a large fireball when he hit the ground, and slid about 400 meters. Several buildings, apparently all of them under construction, have been set on fire by the crash.
The plane was loaded with mostly children's toys and plastic products.
