UPS Airlines Flight 6

Last updated

UPS Airlines Flight 6
UPS Boeing 747-400 in Dubai KvW.jpg
N571UP, the Boeing 747 involved, seen in 2008
Accident
DateSeptember 3, 2010 (2010-09-03)
SummaryCrashed following in-flight cargo fire
Site Nad Al Sheba Military camp, near Dubai International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
25°05′53″N55°21′36″E / 25.098°N 55.360°E / 25.098; 55.360
Aircraft
Aircraft type Boeing 747-44AF/SCD
Operator UPS Airlines
IATA flight No.5X6
ICAO flight No.UPS6
Call signUPS 6
Registration N571UP
Flight origin Dubai International Airport, Dubai, United Arab Emirates
Destination Cologne Bonn Airport, Germany
Occupants2
Crew2
Fatalities2
Survivors0

UPS Airlines Flight 6 was a cargo flight operated by UPS Airlines. On September 3, 2010, the Boeing 747-400F flying the route between Dubai, United Arab Emirates, and Cologne, Germany, developed an in-flight fire, which caused the aircraft to crash, killing both crew members, the only people on board. [1] [2] [3] It was the first fatal air crash for UPS Airlines. [4] The crash prompted a re-evaluation of safety procedures protecting airliners from cockpit smoke.

Contents

Background

After arriving from Hong Kong earlier in the day, Flight 6 departed from Dubai International Airport at 18:53 local time (14:53 UTC) on September 3, 2010, bound for Cologne Bonn Airport in Germany. The designated crew were Captain Douglas Lampe (48), of Louisville, Kentucky, and First Officer Matthew Bell (38), from Sanford, Florida. [5] [6] Lampe had been flying for UPS Airlines for 15 years and had over 11,000 flight hours, with 4,000 hours flying in the Boeing 747-400. [7] [8] Bell had 4 years and 5,500 hours respectively, with 77 hours in the 747-400. [7]

Accident

At 19:15, the EICAS message FIRE MAIN DK FWD appeared on the upper EICAS display, and the crew reported fire in the cockpit when the aircraft was around 120 nautical miles (138 mi; 222 km) west-northwest of Dubai. An emergency was declared shortly afterward. [3] The pilots were under the control of Bahrain's air traffic control (ATC), and they could not initially contact Dubai ATC because of thick smoke entering the flight deck that obscured the radio panel. [9] Although they were offered a diversion 100 nautical miles (115 mi; 185 km) to Doha, Qatar, [10] Captain Lampe decided to return to Dubai. The thick smoke required the pilots to communicate with nearby planes over VHF to relay messages to Bahrain ATC, as Bell was unable to see the radio through the smoke. The aircraft involved in relaying messages from UPS 6 included three Boeing 737-800s operated by Flydubai, and the Dubai Royal Air Wing's own 747-400, callsign Dubai One.

Lampe disengaged the autopilot to fly the plane manually. Upon doing so, he discovered that he had no elevator control. The fire had burned through the protective fire-resistant liner that covered the cargo hold and destroyed the primary flight control system, crippling the 747. At 19:20, Lampe's oxygen mask failed and he relinquished command of the plane to First Officer Bell. Captain Lampe subsequently left his seat to retrieve the emergency reserve oxygen system (EROS) oxygen mask, which was stowed behind his seat. However, he lost consciousness soon after as a result of hypoxia after inhaling the acrid smoke, and he collapsed on the floor of the flight deck. The fire was thought to have also disrupted the oxygen supply to the EROS mask, leaving Lampe with no oxygen to return to the pilot seat and fly the plane. Bell was instructed to land on the airport's runway 12L. [3]

The aircraft was too high on the approach and the gear did not extend. The aircraft passed over the airport before making a tight turn. Bell attempted to turn toward Sharjah International Airport, but mistakenly turned in the wrong direction (195° instead of 095°). Radar contact was lost shortly thereafter at 19:42 UTC. The aircraft finally struck the ground at a shallow angle and at high speed in an unpopulated area between the Emirates Road and Al Ain Highway, barely missing Dubai Silicon Oasis. The right wing hit the ground first and the burning 747 skidded a few meters, exploding in a fireball, killing both Bell and the unconscious Lampe instantly. [11] Many of the initial reports were issued by Emirates pilots living in the area.

Aircraft

The aircraft involved in the accident was a Boeing 747-400F with registered N571UP, delivered to UPS Airlines in September 2007. [12] It had flown for more than 10,000 hours, and had a major inspection performed in June 2010. [13] The aircraft was powered by four General Electric CF6-80C2B5FG01 turbofan engines, [14] [15] and was among the newest (#1,393 of 1,418; the 26th from the last) [16] Boeing 747-400s built before the introduction of the succeeding 747-8.

Investigation

The United Arab Emirates General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) opened an investigation into the crash, assisted by the NTSB. [17] [18] The Bahraini government conducted its own investigation. [19] UPS also sent its own investigation team. [6] The flight data recorder and cockpit voice recorder were recovered and sent to the United States for analysis by the NTSB. [10]

The GCAA released its final investigation report in July 2013. [20] The report indicated that the fire was caused by the autoignition of the contents of a cargo pallet that contained more than 81,000 lithium batteries and other combustible materials. The shutdown of air conditioning pack 1 for unknown reasons allowed smoke to enter the cockpit. [7]

The investigation also revealed that the cargo liner failed when the fire started, and this contributed to the severity of the damage. [7]

Aftermath

In October 2010, the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) issued a safety alert for operators highlighting the fact that the cargo on board Flight 6 contained a large quantity of lithium-type batteries. [3] The FAA issued a restriction on the carrying of lithium batteries in bulk on passenger flights. [21] Boeing announced that the 747-400F fire checklists were to be modified to instruct pilots that at least one of the three air conditioning systems must be left in operation to prevent excessive smoke accumulation on the flight deck. [3]

The accident revived concerns about the effects of smoke in the cockpit, raising the question of whether smoke hoods or inflatable vision units should be introduced in commercial aviation. [4] [22] [23] Around the time of the crash, the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) had asked the FAA to mandate the installation of automatic fire extinguisher systems in the holds of cargo aircraft. UPS Airlines followed FAA regulations, which stated that pilots should depressurize the main cabin and climb to an altitude of at least 20,000 feet (6,100 m) upon detection of a fire so as to deprive the flames of oxygen. [24]

Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula (AQAP) has claimed responsibility for the crash in addition to the 2010 transatlantic aircraft bomb plot. However, U.S. and United Arab Emirates investigators had said they had not found any evidence of an explosion or terrorist involvement in that incident, and were skeptical about the claim. They suggested it was probably an attempt by AQAP to bolster its image. On September 10, the FBI and the U.S. Department of Homeland Security confirmed that the AQAP was not involved in the crash. [25] [26]

Dramatization

The crash was featured on season 15 of the Canadian documentary series Mayday in an episode titled "Fatal Delivery". [27]

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747</span> American wide-body long-range commercial jet aircraft

The Boeing 747 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner designed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes in the United States between 1968 and 2023. After introducing the 707 in October 1958, Pan Am wanted a jet 2+1⁄2 times its size, to reduce its seat cost by 30%. In 1965, Joe Sutter left the 737 development program to design the 747. In April 1966, Pan Am ordered 25 Boeing 747-100 aircraft, and in late 1966, Pratt & Whitney agreed to develop the JT9D engine, a high-bypass turbofan. On September 30, 1968, the first 747 was rolled out of the custom-built Everett Plant, the world's largest building by volume. The first flight took place on February 9, 1969, and the 747 was certified in December of that year. It entered service with Pan Am on January 22, 1970. The 747 was the first airplane called a "Jumbo Jet" as the first wide-body airliner.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 777</span> Wide-body, long-range, twin-engine jet airliner family

The Boeing 777, commonly referred to as the Triple Seven, is an American long-range wide-body airliner developed and manufactured by Boeing Commercial Airplanes. The 777 is the world's largest twinjet and the most-built wide-body airliner. The jetliner was designed to bridge the gap between Boeing's other wide body airplanes, the twin-engined 767 and quad-engined 747, and to replace aging DC-10 and L-1011 trijets. Developed in consultation with eight major airlines, the 777 program was launched in October 1990, with an order from United Airlines. The prototype was rolled out in April 1994, and first flew in June. The 777 entered service with the launch operator United Airlines in June 1995. Longer-range variants were launched in 2000, and first delivered in 2004.

Atlas Air, Inc. is a major American cargo airline, passenger charter airline, and aircraft lessor based in Purchase, New York. It is a wholly owned subsidiary of Atlas Air Worldwide Holdings. Atlas Air is the world's largest operator of the Boeing 747 aircraft, with a total fleet of 54 of this specific fleet type. In 2021, the airline had 4,056 employees and operated to more than 300 global destinations.

Kalitta Air is an American cargo airline headquartered at Willow Run Airport, Ypsilanti Township, Michigan. The company operates international scheduled and cargo charter services. Its call sign "Connie" is from its founder, Connie Kalitta.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747-400</span> Wide-body airliner, improved production series of the 747

The Boeing 747-400 is a large, long-range wide-body airliner produced by Boeing Commercial Airplanes, an advanced variant of the initial Boeing 747. The "Advanced Series 300" was announced at the September 1984 Farnborough Airshow, targeting a 10% cost reduction with more efficient engines and 1,000 nautical miles [nmi] of additional range. Northwest Airlines became the first customer with an order for 10 aircraft on October 22, 1985. The first 747-400 was rolled out on January 26, 1988, and made its maiden flight on April 29, 1988. Type certification was received on January 9, 1989, and it entered service with NWA on February 9, 1989.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sharjah International Airport</span> Airport in Sharjah, UAE

Sharjah International Airport is an international airport located 7 nautical miles east-southeast of Sharjah, United Arab Emirates. It is spread over an area of 15,200,000 m2. It has one runway, and is the only airport in Sharjah capable of international flights as of 2022.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Air India Flight 855</span> 1978 aviation accident

Air India Flight 855 was a scheduled passenger flight from Bombay, India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates. On 1 January 1978, the Boeing 747 operating the flight crashed about 3 km off the coast of Bandra, less than two minutes after take-off. All 213 passengers and crew on board died. An investigation into the crash determined the most likely probable cause was the captain becoming spatially disoriented and losing control of the aircraft after the failure of one of the flight instruments. It was the deadliest air accident both in Air India's and India's history until Flight 182 in 1985 and then Charkhi Dadri mid-air collision in 1996.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">South African Airways Flight 295</span> 1987 plane crash in the Indian Ocean

South African Airways Flight 295 (SA295/SAA295) was a scheduled international passenger flight from Chiang Kai-shek International Airport, Taipei, Taiwan, to Jan Smuts International Airport, Johannesburg, South Africa, with a stopover in Plaisance Airport, Plaine Magnien, Mauritius. On 28 November 1987, the aircraft serving the flight, a Boeing 747-200 Combi named Helderberg, experienced a catastrophic in-flight fire in the cargo area, broke up in mid-air, and crashed into the Indian Ocean east of Mauritius, killing all 159 people on board. An extensive salvage operation was mounted to try to recover the aircraft's flight recorders, one of which was recovered from a depth of 4,900 metres (16,100 ft).

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing Dreamlifter</span> Type of aircraft

The Boeing 747-400 Large Cargo Freighter (LCF) is a wide-body cargo aircraft modified extensively from the Boeing 747-400 airliner. With a volume of 65,000 cubic feet (1,840 m3) it can hold three times that of a 747-400F freighter. The outsized aircraft, known as the Dreamlifter, was designed to transport Boeing 787 Dreamliner parts between Italy, Japan, and the U.S., but has also flown medical supplies during the COVID-19 pandemic.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Boeing 747 hull losses</span>

As of July 2020, a total of 60 Boeing 747 aircraft, or just under 4% of the total number of 747s built, first flown commercially in 1970, have been involved in accidents and incidents resulting in a hull loss, meaning that the aircraft was either destroyed or damaged beyond economical repair. Of the 60 Boeing 747 aircraft losses, 32 resulted in no loss of life; in one, a hostage was murdered; and in one, a terrorist died. Some of the aircraft that were declared damaged beyond economical repair were older 747s that sustained relatively minor damage. Had these planes been newer, repairing them might have been economically viable, although with the 747's increasing obsolescence, this is becoming less common. Some 747s have been involved in accidents resulting in the highest death toll of any civil aviation accident, the highest death toll of any single airplane accident, and the highest death toll of a midair collision. As with most airliner accidents, the root of cause(s) in these incidents involved a confluence of multiple factors that rarely could be ascribed to flaws with the 747's design or its flying characteristics.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">El Al Flight 1862</span> 1992 plane crash in the Netherlands

On 4 October 1992, El Al Flight 1862, a Boeing 747 cargo aircraft of the Israeli airline El Al, crashed into the Groeneveen and Klein-Kruitberg flats in the Bijlmermeer neighbourhood of Amsterdam, the Netherlands. The crash is known in Dutch as the Bijlmerramp.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Sudan Airways Flight 2241</span> 2009 aviation accident

Sudan Airways Flight 2241 was a scheduled cargo flight from Sharjah, United Arab Emirates to Khartoum, Sudan operated by a Boeing 707-330C which crashed on 21 October 2009.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) is the civil aviation authority of the United Arab Emirates (UAE). Its head office is in Al Rawdah, Abu Dhabi.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Asiana Airlines Flight 991</span> 2011 aviation accident in South Korea

On 28 July 2011, Asiana Airlines Flight 991, a Boeing 747-400F flying from Seoul, South Korea, to Shanghai, China, crashed into the sea off Jeju Island after suffering a main-deck fire. Both pilots, the only two people on board, were killed. The accident marked the second loss of a 747 freighter due to a cargo hold fire in less than a year, following the crash of UPS Airlines Flight 6 in Dubai in September 2010.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Northwest Airlines Flight 85</span> 2002 aviation incident involving a Boeing 747-400 near Anchorage, Alaska, USA

Northwest Airlines Flight 85 was a scheduled international passenger flight from Detroit Metropolitan Wayne County Airport in the United States to Narita International Airport in Japan. On October 9, 2002, while over the Bering Sea, the Boeing 747-400 experienced a lower rudder hardover event, which occurs when an aircraft's rudder deflects to its travel limit without crew input. The 747's hardover gave full left lower rudder, requiring the pilots to use full right upper rudder and right aileron to maintain attitude and course.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">National Airlines Flight 102</span> 2013 aviation accident in Afghanistan

National Airlines Flight 102 (N8102/NCR102) was a cargo flight operated by National Airlines between Camp Shorabak in Afghanistan and Al Maktoum Airport in Dubai, with a refueling stop at Bagram Airfield, Afghanistan. On 29 April 2013, the Boeing 747-400 operating the flight crashed moments after taking off from Bagram, killing all seven people on board.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Emirates Flight 521</span> 2016 passenger plane crash in Dubai

Emirates Flight 521 (EK521/UAE521) was a scheduled international passenger flight from Thiruvananthapuram, India, to Dubai, United Arab Emirates, operated by Emirates using a Boeing 777-300. On 3 August 2016, the aircraft carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew crashed while landing at Dubai International Airport.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Turkish Airlines Flight 6491</span> 2017 Cargo airliner crash in Kyrgyzstan

Turkish Airlines Flight 6491 was a scheduled international cargo flight operated by ACT Airlines on behalf of Turkish Cargo, from Hong Kong to Istanbul via Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan. On 16 January 2017, the Boeing 747-400F flying the route crashed in a residential area while attempting to land in thick fog at Manas International Airport, Bishkek. A total of 39 people – all four crew members on board and 35 residents on the ground – were killed.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kalitta Air Flight 207</span> 2008 Aviation accident

Kalitta Air Flight 207 (K4207/CKS207) was a scheduled cargo flight between John F. Kennedy Airport to Bahrain International Airport with a technical stopover at Brussels. On May 25, 2008, the Boeing 747-200 overran runway 20 during takeoff at Brussels Airport, causing the aircraft to split into three large pieces. The occupants sustained minor injuries.

References

  1. ↑ "Cargo plane crashes near Dubai motorway killing two". BBC News. March 12, 2007. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  2. ↑ Bonnett, Tom (September 3, 2010). "Two Dead As Cargo Plane Crashes In Dubai". Sky News. Sky News Online. Archived from the original on September 7, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  3. 1 2 3 4 5 Hradecky, Simon (September 3, 2010). "Crash: UPS B744 at Dubai on Sep 3rd 2010, fire in cockpit". The Aviation Herald . Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  4. 1 2 Cummins, Chip; Pasztor, Andy (September 4, 2010). "UPS Cargo Plane Crashes Near Dubai". The Wall Street Journal . ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  5. ↑ Adams, Brent (September 3, 2010). "UPS flight crashes in Dubai". American City Business Journals . Business First. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  6. 1 2 "UAE: UPS 747 had smoke in cockpit before crash". Las Vegas Sun . Associated Press. September 11, 2010. Archived from the original on September 15, 2010. Retrieved September 11, 2010.
  7. 1 2 3 4 "Air Accident Investigation Report - Uncontained Cargo Fire Leading to Loss of Control Inflight and Uncontrolled Descent Into Terrain" (PDF). General Civil Aviation Authority. July 24, 2013. Archived (PDF) from the original on October 12, 2022. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  8. ↑ Sathish, VM (September 5, 2010). "Pilots identified in UPS plane crash". Emirates24/7. Retrieved May 26, 2022.
  9. ↑ "UPS freighter had radio failure and fire before fatal crash". www.arabianaerospace.aero. Arabian Aerospace. September 9, 2010. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  10. 1 2 Kaminski-Morrow, David. "Ill-fated UPS crew offered Doha alternate after fire alarm". Flight International. Retrieved September 15, 2010.
  11. ↑ "GCAA Announces the Preliminary Report on the accident involving UPS6 Boeing 747 – 400 on 3rd September, 2010" (Press release). UAE General Civil Aviation Authority. September 5, 2010. Archived from the original on September 7, 2010. Retrieved September 5, 2010.
  12. ↑ "UPS confirms Dubai 747-400 crash". Flight International. September 3, 2010. Retrieved September 4, 2010.
  13. ↑ "UPS: Crashed 747 was three years old". Flight International. September 5, 2010. Retrieved September 6, 2010.
  14. ↑ "N571UP United Parcel Service (UPS) Boeing 747-400F". www.planespotters.net. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  15. ↑ "UPS N571UP (Boeing 747 - MSN 35668)". Airfleets aviation. Retrieved May 11, 2020.
  16. ↑ Jäger, Timo (August 20, 2010). "Photograph showing serial number information". Airliners.net.
  17. ↑ "NTSB assists Government of the United Arab Emirates in aviation accident" (Press release). National Transportation Safety Board. September 3, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  18. ↑ "Boeing Statement on UPS Accident at Dubai" (Press release). Boeing. September 3, 2010. Archived from the original on September 7, 2010. Retrieved September 3, 2010.
  19. ↑ Singh, Mandeep (September 6, 2010). "Bahrain probes crash..." Gulf Daily News . Archived from the original on November 7, 2017. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  20. ↑ Kapur, Vicky (July 25, 2013). "UPS Dubai crash: GCAA final report links accident to lithium batteries". Emirates 24/7. Retrieved December 30, 2015.
  21. ↑ Hradecky, Simon. "The risks of lithium batteries in aircraft cargo". Aviation Herald. Retrieved October 8, 2010.
  22. ↑ Malas, Nour; Pasztor, Andy (September 7, 2010). "UPS Crash Puts Focus on Smoke in Cockpit". The Wall Street Journal . ISSN   0099-9660 . Retrieved September 8, 2010.
  23. ↑ MacDonald, Janelle (November 10, 2010). "Could a low-tech device save lives on planes?". Wave 3 News. Retrieved April 13, 2021.
  24. ↑ Downs, Jere (September 9, 2010). "UPS crash comes as regulators debate fire fighting on cargo planes". The Courier-Journal . Archived from the original on July 29, 2012. Retrieved September 9, 2010.
  25. ↑ Schmitt, Eric; Shane, Scott (November 5, 2010). "Saudis Warned U.S. of Attack Before Parcel Bomb Plot". The New York Times. Archived from the original on September 24, 2018. Retrieved February 24, 2017.
  26. ↑ "UAE to review bomb blast claim in UPS jet crash". Al Arabiya . November 6, 2010. Archived from the original on November 9, 2010. Retrieved November 7, 2010.
  27. ↑ Mayday - Air Crash Investigation (S01-S22) , retrieved February 4, 2024
This page is based on this Wikipedia article
Text is available under the CC BY-SA 4.0 license; additional terms may apply.
Images, videos and audio are available under their respective licenses.