Etihad Airways cargo flight to Abu Dhabi diverted to Mumbai after 'technical issue'

An Etihad Airways cargo flight from Hanoi to Abu Dhabi diverted to Mumbai after it developed a technical issue.

Etihad Cargo flight EY972 was over eastern India when its crew posted 7700 on the radio, indicating a general emergency.

Tracking site Flightradar24 showed the Boeing 777 had rapidly descended to 10,000 feet but no more details were given.

“Etihad Airways freighter flight ‪EY972 from Hanoi (HAN) to Abu Dhabi (AUH) on January 11 has diverted to Mumbai (BOM) as a precautionary measure due to a technical issue,” Etihad Airways told The National.

“The flight landed safely in Mumbai and will undergo routine technical checks. Safety is always our number one priority.”

Sudden drops in altitude are not common in aviation.

In the case of cabin depressurisation, flight crew are trained to descend immediately to an altitude where it is possible to breathe without additional oxygen, often around 10,000 feet, and as long as the surrounding terrain allows.

Etihad Airways's A350 jet - in pictures

Etihad's Sustainble50 lands in New York, marking the launch of A350 flights from Abu Dhabi to the US. All photos: Etihad Airways

The Sustainable50 is the first of five A350s destined for the Abu Dhabi airline.

The ultra-efficient jet is part of the airline industry's programme working to reduce carbon emissions and make flying more sustainable.

Etihad's new A350-100 has a dynamic LED lighting system with more than 16 million colours.

Etihad's new business class cabin on the new A350-1000.

Etihad's A350 has winglet-type devices to reduce aerodynamic drag.

'The National' was onboard Etihad's inaugural A350-1000 flight to Paris.

The aircraft has a custom livery that pays tribute to the UAE's golden jubilee and Etihad's commitment to net-zero carbon emissions by 2050.

The burning issue

The internal combustion engine is facing a watershed moment – major manufacturer Volvo is to stop producing petroleum-powered vehicles by 2021 and countries in Europe, including the UK, have vowed to ban their sale before 2040. The National takes a look at the story of one of the most successful technologies of the last 100 years and how it has impacted life in the UAE.

Read part four: an affection for classic cars lives on

Read part three: the age of the electric vehicle begins

Read part one: how cars came to the UAE

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