What happened
A cargo flight operating from Hong Kong to Cologne, with a scheduled stop in Dubai, encountered a fire indication on the main deck forward area while climbing toward 32,000 feet. Following the fire warning, the crew decided to divert back to their previous location, Dubai International Airport (DXB). During the emergency return, the aircraft experienced significant issues, including a loss of pitch control effectiveness and the accumulation of dense smoke and fumes within the cockpit. The smoke was so pervasive that the crew could not see primary flight displays, communication panels, or the external environment.
As the emergency progressed, the captain' $\text{oxygen supply}$ failed abruptly. The captain subsequently lost consciousness due to toxic poisoning, leaving the first officer to operate the aircraft alone. While attempting to navigate toward Dubai, the aircraft experienced a landing gear disagreement warning. During the approach, the aircraft was traveling too fast and too high for the intended runway, and the crew declined a request to perform a 360-degree turn.
While diverted toward Sharjah Airport (SHJ), the aircraft entered a descending right-hand turn. The pilot experienced severe difficulty maintaining the descent profile due to a lack of elevator response. The aircraft underwent rapid pitch oscillations caused by a desynchronization between the control column inputs and the elevators. Ultimately, the aircraft lost control in flight and entered an uncontrolled descent into terrain near the Dubai Silicone Oasis area.
Findings
- The cockpit environment was severely compromised by continuous smoke and fumes originating from a source near the cockpit area.
- The captain became incapacitated by toxic poisoning following an abrupt failure of the oxygen supply.
- The aircraft suffered from diminished elevator effectiveness and a desynchronization of control inputs, leading to the loss of flight control.