A Dubai fire-fighter has died while battling flames after a Emirates Airline plane crash-landed at Dubai International Airport today, according to news agency Reuters. Four Irish civilians were passengers on board the aircraft
The flight was en route from India and crash-landed earlier today before bursting into flames.
282 passengers, including the four Irish people and 18 crew escaped from the burning fuselage and were brought to safety.
The Irish Embassy in Abu Dhabi is engaging with those affected by the incident and said it stands ready to offer consular assistance if needed.
Inset: (Dubai Fire Chief announces Firefighters death)
A spokesperson for operator Dubai Airports said all passengers and crew aboard flight EK521 coming from Thiruvananthapuram, the capital of the southern Indian state of Kerala, had been safely evacuated and emergency services were managing the situation.
According to air traffic control recordings cited by Aviation Herald, ATC at Dubai had reminded the crew of the Boeing 777 to lower the landing gear as it came into approach.
Shortly afterwards, the crew announced they were aborting the landing to “go around,” a routine procedure for which pilots are well trained, but the aircraft came to rest near the end of the runway instead, Aviation Herald reported.
There was no immediate confirmation on whether the landing gear was extended when the aircraft touched the ground.
