Emirates aircraft, EK521, flying from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai made an emergency landing at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, Dubai airport sources said.
Emirates confirmed that there are no fatalities among the passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe, the airline said. There were 282 passengers and 18 crew on board the aircraft. It added that the main priority involves offering support to concerned family and friends.
Dubai International Airport has been closed until further notice.
The aircraft was a Boeing 777-300 and delivered in March 2003.
Evacuation and rescue operations were done with extreme efficiency and care and passengers were taken to safety in no time.
All passengers have been escorted to safety. The area has been cordoned off.
No takeoff and landing at Dubai airport right now.
Update Emirates statement
Emirates can confirm that today, 3rd August 2016, flight EK521 travelling from Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, India to Dubai has been involved in an accident at Dubai International Airport. There were 275 passengers and crew on board.
Our main priority at this time is the safety and wellbeing of all involved and full co-operation is being extended to the authorities and emergency services managing the situation.
Emirates can confirm that an incident happened at Dubai International Airport on 3rd August 2016 at about 12.45pm local time.— Emirates airline (@emirates) August 3, 2016
Departure flights from Dubai International Airport have been delayed until further notice. Zarina Fernandes/Gulf News
All flights diverted to Maktoum International Airport. On its Facebook page, the airline said: “We are expecting a 4-hour network wide delay, more information will be available on the Emirates website and social media channels.”
Relatives are waiting
Anxious relatives are waiting to see the passengers on the affected plane at the waiting area of the arrival terminal.
Operations at DXB have been affected with all departing flights delayed until further notice.— Dubai Airports (@DubaiAirports) August 3, 2016
There were 275 passengers and crew on board. Our main priority now is the safety and well-being of all involved.— Emirates airline (@emirates) August 3, 2016
Emergency response teams have been activated and all passengers and crew have been safely evacuated.— Dubai Airports (@DubaiAirports) August 3, 2016
Reji George who lives in Deira is one of the relatives anxiously waiting for the passengers to come out at the arrival lounge. His brother and family were among the passengers. “I was on the way actually because the flight landed. They called me around 12:50 saying that the flight is burning and all the passengers are out. Nobody knows actually what happened.”
Passengers waiting at the terminal
He said his brother, wife and two kids aged 10 and 12 were safe. Another Indian man who didn’t want to be named said he was waiting for his wife.
“People have inhaled smoke. Those who left the plane early might not have. But those who went out later have inhaled smoke,” he said, quoting his wife. “All of them in the hanger. We don’t know how long it will take for them to come out.”
“I went to the EK office on the 3rd floor to ask What is the next step the general procedures… they are not saying anything.. they asked me to ask at the information coubter at the arrival area I had already gone there.”
Manu, who came to pick his cousin sister and two kids, said he got to know the information on the way through flash news.
“I spoke to her once. She couldn’t say much. They are okay. But I think the kids have inhaled smoke. The second one is just three months old. She had gone to Kerala for her delivery.”
Here husband is in Abu Dhabi and he is on his way. He had planned to come only tomorrow because we are here. But now he is rushing here, said Manu who was seen consoling his brother-in-law.
Source:: Gulf News
Emirates plane makes emergency landing at Dubai airport, all passengers safe
#Dubai #MyDubai #DXBplanet #LoveDubai #UAE #دبي
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