Boeing to join Emirates probe in Dubai as technical advisor

A Boeing team has been tasked to assist the UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority that is leading investigations into the Emirates EK521 crash in Dubai on Wednesday.

Boeing, the manufacturer of the 777 that crashed-landed with 300 people on board, said it will serve as ''technical advisor" to the investigation team put together by the civil aviation authority.

Earlier, the US National Transportation Safety Board, which investigates accidents of this nature, had directed the aircraft company to be part of the investigations into the incident, which some reports said may have been caused by faulty landing gear. This could not be confirmed from the civil aviation authority.

Footage on social media also showed one of the engines bursting into flames as it hit the tarmac. Emirates said it was a "operational incident" but did not go into details.

The aircraft that was involved in the crash was delivered to Emirates in 2003. Different models of the 777 have become the workhorse of the fleet. In March, Boeing delivered its 150th 777 to the Middle East's largest carrier. Sixteen 777-300ERs are to join the fleet in the course of this year.

Emirates last year announced it would retire nine 777s of different models this year. The industry average for retirement of planes is 25 years, but Emirates is retiring them in 15.7 years.

Emirates will retire 13 more aircraft in 2017 and another 13 the following year.  The latest 777 planes emit 12 per cent less carbon dioxide than those being retired and are more fuel efficient.

Boeing's 777 program was launched in October 1990 and  its first buyer was United which first flew the aircraft commercially in 1995. It is available in six models, with the next generation 777X expected to be out in 2020.

allan@khaleejtimes.com

• Dubai