Emirates Flight EK521, a Boeing 777 making an emergency landing at Dubai International Airport, burst into flames upon touching down earlier today. It’s not clear exactly what caused the incident, but none of the approximately 300 people on board were reportedly killed.
There were were 282 passengers and 18 crew members on board, including 226 Indians, 24 Britons and 11 Emirati nationals, according to Agence France-Presse. Less than 10 people were treated for smoke inhalation and burn injuries, Gulf News reported.
The plane’s right wing fuel tank can be seen exploding here:
Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, the CEO of Emirates, released a video statement saying that the airline’s first priority is the care and wellbeing of its passengers and crew, and that “we have extended our full co-operation to the authorities and emergency services managing the situation.”
Ahmed Bin Saeed Al Maktoum, oddly enough, actually seems to be one of those authorities through his additional role as the country’s head of the Department of Civil Aviation. He is the son of the country’s former ruler, the brother of another former ruler, and the uncle of the current regent of Dubai, Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum.
More as we have it.
UPDATE [12:03 p.m. ET]: One firefighter was killed while fighting the blaze, per the BBC. All of the passengers and crew were evacuated safely. Flights in and out of the Dubai airport that were halted for several hours, but have now been resumed.