What happened
On 3 August 2016, an Emirates Boeing 777-31H, registration A6-EMW, was performing a scheduled passenger flight from Trivandrum, India, to Dubai. During the approach to runway 12L at Dubai International Airport, the pilot flying attempted a manual landing amidst forecasted moderate windshear. After touching down on the runway, the pilot decided to initiate a go-around because the aircraft was not settling within the intended touchdown zone. The crew believed the difficulty was due to thermal currents rather than windshear, and therefore did not execute a specific windshear escape maneuver.
As the go-around began, the aircraft climbed to approximately 85 feet before losing airspeed and sinking back toward the runway. The aircraft struck the runway surface and slid for about 800 meters. While the fuselage remained largely intact during the slide, the number 2 engine and pylon assembly separated from the airframe. During the subsequent evacuation, 282 passengers and 18 crewmembers were involved. While most evacuated safely, a significant number of passengers attempted to retrieve carry-on luggage, complicating the process. Approximately nine minutes after the aircraft came to rest, an explosion in the center wing tank occurred, causing a large section of the wing skin to fall and fatally strike a firefighter on the scene. The aircraft was ultimately destroyed by fire.
The investigation
The GCAA AAIS investigation focused on the sequence of events leading to the loss of altitude during the go-around. Investigators examined the flight data, which revealed that although the crew pushed the TO/GA switches, the thrust levers remained at idle. This occurred because the aircraft had already made contact with the runway, which inhibited the autothrottle from responding to the switches. The investigation also looked into the engine performance, the effectiveness of the evacuation slides, and the causes of the post-impact wing tank explosion.
Findings
- The pilot flying did not realize the aircraft had touched down for six seconds prior to the go-around attempt.
- The thrust levers remained at the idle position during the initial climb, leaving the engines without sufficient power to support the ascent.
- The crew did not observe that the autothrottle had not increased engine thrust.
- The decision to perform a standard go-around instead of a windshear escape maneuver contributed to the insufficient energy state.
- The evacuation was hindered by passengers attempting to carry hand luggage, and some escape slides became unusable.
- A center wing tank explosion occurred after the aircraft had stopped, leading to the death of a first responder.