UPS Crash in Dubai (Update)

The UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) released an update to the preliminary report on the crash of a UPS Boeing 747 freighter just after takeoff from Dubai International Airport last September. It appears that, at least for now, suspicions of terrorist involvement in the incident are no longer being considered, even though Al Qaeda claimed responsibility for the crash.

The update indicates that shortly after takeoff, a fire started in the main cargo hold of the aircraft. The smoke and fumes from the fire entered the cockpit, where the crew’s oxygen and air conditioning equipment failed to provide adequate protection to the crew. The captain was apparently forced to leave the flight deck when his oxygen mask failed to provide sufficient oxygen. The report goes on to state that the smoke and fumes in the cockpit were so dense that the crew was unable to see their instruments in order to descend and return to the airport.

The next question to be answered is what caused the fire in the first place.

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