What happened
On 19 December 2021, an Emirates Boeing 777-300ER, registration A6-EQI, departed from Dubai International Airport (OMDB) bound for Washington Dulles International Airport. The flight was a scheduled passenger service carrying 372 people onboard, with no fatalities or injuries reported.
During the pre-flight phase, the pilot in command noted the altitude selector was set to 0, which she corrected to 4,000 feet to align with the SENPA 2F standard instrument departure (SID) requirements. Following takeoff at 23:10:29 UTC, the crew retracted the landing gear. However, as the aircraft climbed, the rate of ascent peaked at only approximately 800 feet per minute. This shallow climb prevented the crew from adhering to the published climb gradient specified in the SID.
At 23:11:01 UTC, the crew engaged the takeoff/go-around (TOGA) mode. During this phase, as the airspeed increased toward 250 knots, a flap 15 over-speed condition occurred. The flight eventually continued to its destination and landed without further incident.
The investigation
The UAE Air Accident Investigation Sector (AAIS) initiated an investigation after the event was classified as a serious incident. The investigation team included representatives from the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) and the Boeing Company. Investigators analyzed the digital flight data recorder (DFDR) and reviewed cockpit preparations, including the altitude selector settings and flight director commands. The investigation also examined meteorological conditions, which were reported as clear with minimal wind, and the aircraft's performance relative to the programmed departure profile.