The Emirates EK521 accident in Dubai is remembered for two truths that sit side by side: every passenger and crew member made it out alive, and a firefighter lost his life during the emergency response. That contrast is what gives the 2016 runway accident its lasting weight.
The flight, a Boeing 777-300 arriving from Thiruvananthapuram, India, was carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members. Emirates said the accident happened at around 12:45 p.m. local time on August 3, 2016, at Dubai International Airport.
By the following day, the airline had confirmed that all 300 people on board had been safely evacuated. It also credited the response from airline and airport teams, whose work unfolded in a fast-moving and dangerous situation.
What Happened on the Runway
A preliminary account from the UAE General Civil Aviation Authority described an attempted go-around before the aircraft descended rapidly from about 85 feet. The aircraft struck the runway, slid roughly 800 metres, and came to a stop before being destroyed by fire.