An Emirates flight from Thiruvananthapuram, India, made a dramatic emergency landing at Dubai International Airport on Wednesday afternoon. The Boeing 777, carrying 282 passengers and 18 crew members, crash-landed at around 12:45 p.m. local time, prompting a massive emergency response. While all on board survived, 10 people were hospitalized for injuries, and one firefighter tragically lost his life during the rescue operation.
Early reports suggest that wind shear—a sudden change in wind direction or speed—may have contributed to the incident. One passenger stated that the pilot had warned of potential landing gear issues shortly before touchdown. Upon landing, the aircraft skidded along the runway and caught fire, filling the cabin with smoke as passengers rushed to evacuate.
Emergency crews acted swiftly, extinguishing the blaze and safely evacuating everyone within minutes. Video footage from the scene showed thick black smoke rising from the burning jet as rescue teams worked under intense heat and danger. The courage and efficiency of the emergency personnel were credited with preventing a far greater tragedy.
Authorities have launched a full investigation into the cause of the crash landing. Emirates has expressed deep sorrow over the loss of the firefighter and gratitude that all passengers survived. The incident temporarily halted operations at Dubai International Airport, causing significant flight delays and diversions across the region.