Al Arabiya Television is reporting that an American UPS cargo plane crashed at approximately 12 p.m. EST, near the Dubai, UAE, airport. UPS Flight 6, a Boeing 747-400 with two crewmembers on board, was en route from the United Arab Emirates to Cologne, Germany. Ambulances were rushing to the area, located near a residential district, an Al Arabiya reporter said. According to a UAE senior official, a fire broke in the plane near the Dubai International Airport, causing its crash. The plane fell 20 kilometers away from the Dubai International Airport near a UAE military camp.
The plane went down near a busy highway intersection, southeast of Dubai's international airport, but the state news agency WAM reported the crash occurred in an unpopulated desert area, suggesting there may not have been casualties on the ground.
Reuters is reporting that the United Arab Emirates civil aviation authority said the bodies of the two crew members on board were recovered. Smoke was billowing from the base, a Reuters eyewitness reported. Al Jazeera television quoted witnesses as saying the plane was ablaze before crashing. State-run Dubai TV said the crash appeared to have been caused by a technical fault.
London’s Daily Mail quotes UPS officials as confirming that UPS Flight 6 from Dubai, UAE, to Cologne, DE, crashed on takeoff. "Safety is a key priority for UPS," said Airline & International Operations Manager Bob Lekites. "This incident is very unfortunate and we will do everything we can to find the cause," said Lekites. "Our thoughts go out to the crewmembers involved in the incident and their families. We will also release more information as it becomes available, in cooperation with government authorities. We will not speculate about the cause. Until then, we ask for your patience in this difficult time."
A media information hotline has also been established. The hotline number is (502) 329-0110. A recorded message will provide any updates; the system will also allow reporters to leave messages if they would like a return call. Regular updates will be provided throughout the day.
United Parcel Service (UPS), a global package delivery company and freight service based in Atlanta, operates a major transportation hub at Louisville’s International Airport.
In October 2009, a Sudanese Boeing 707 cargo plane crashed in the desert outside Dubai, killing six crew members.
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