Investigations into UPS crash in Dubai near end

DUBAI // Investigators of the 2010 crash of UPS Flight 6 in Dubai are preparing to release their final report on July 1.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has spent the past 33 months investigating the crash of the Boeing 747-400 that claimed the lives of 48-year-old Captain Doug Lampe and First Officer Matthew Bell, 38.

Investigators from the GCAA’s Air Accident Investigation Sector worked with representatives from UPS, Boeing, the US Government National Transportation Safety Board and the US Federal Aviation Administration.

“Over the past years, the GCAA has gained enormous capabilities in handling air accident investigations, and we are very keen to collaborate with other specialised entities to share expertise and enhance the safety of the UAE skies,” said Saif Al Suwaidi, director general of the GCAA.

Representatives of all involved bodies met in the capital at the start of the month to review progress on the report and its findings.

“The GCAA is in the final stages of preparing the air accident final report,” said Khalid Al Rais, the investigator in charge. “The workshop aimed to open a constructive dialogue between all parties involved in the investigation, to enhance safety.

“The investigation has involved a significant level of international cooperation that has seen the UAE take a leading role. A number of independent fire tests have been performed, and reconstruction of the aircraft critical systems was undertaken to establish the root cause of the aircraft’s failures.”

What is currently known to the public is that at 7.12pm on September 3, 2010, UPS Flight 6 reported its Main Deck Fire Warning had gone off. It is believed its cargo of lithium batteries was on fire.

The pilots were in contact with Bahraini air-traffic controllers at the time, who said they could land at Doha, but the pilots chose to return to Dubai instead.

Once in Dubai airspace, it became clear they could not change radio frequency meaning they had to communicate with Dubai air traffic control through their counterparts in Bahrain.

By the time the pilots attempted to land at Dubai International Airport, thick smoke had filled the cockpit and the aircraft overflew the runway at around 4,000ft, then turned right. Five minutes later, emergency services were alerted when the plane crashed inside Nad Al Sheba Military Base, close to the junction of Sheikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Road and Al Ain motorway.

The full findings of the crash investigation will be published on July 1, along with numerous safety recommendations set forward by the GCAA to concerned entities.

source: http://www.thenational.ae

Tags: 2010 crash, Dubai, investigators, UPS Flight 6

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