DUBAI // The pilots on board UPS Flight 6, which crashed in Dubai this month, reported smoke in the cockpit less than half an hour after take-off, civil aviation investigators said yesterday.
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) announced there was a "fire warning" and that the crew reported smoke in the cockpit 28 minutes after the cargo plane left Dubai International Airport en route to Cologne, Germany, on September 3.
Bahraini air traffic control also suggested the plane land in Doha, but the pilots opted to return to Dubai, according to the GCAA, in a statement issued through WAM, the state news agency.
The crew then experienced "cockpit visibility and communication problems" before issuing a Mayday distress call.
The information was found in the plane's two flight data recorders, or black boxes, which were sent to the US for analysis on Friday. According to the GCAA, the captain was in control "up to the end of the recording".
Last week investigators found both of the boxes, which contain voice and data recordings, among the wreckage of the Boeing 747-400, which crashed less than an hour after taking off from Dubai.
Saif al Suwaidi, the director general of the GCAA, said investigators are still trying to retrieve all the information from the recorders, something he anticipates will take another five days.
"During the first 28 minutes it seems there were no problems, but we got from the recorders that the problems came when the alarm came on at 28 minutes," Mr al Suwaidi said.
"It seems like the pilot tried to manage the flying, but in time the smoke must have increased in the cockpit to make his situation difficult."
UPS Flight 6 was unable to change radio frequency after entering Bahraini airspace, making it impossible to communicate directly with Dubai air traffic control.
The pilots chose to return to Dubai after issuing the distress call, and maintained communication through Bahraini air traffic control.
According to Mr al Suwaidi, investigators are still looking into what caused the communications problems and why the pilots were unable to change their radio frequency.
A preliminary report from the GCAA said that at 7.42pm air traffic control lost radar contact with the plane, which then crashed inside the Nad al Sheba Military Camp, killing the two crew members on board, Capt Doug Lampe and First Officer Matthew Bell, both Americans.
The investigation into the crash, led by the GCAA, continues.
@Email:zconstantine@thenational.ae
What the law says
Micro-retirement is not a recognised concept or employment status under Federal Decree Law No. 33 of 2021 on the Regulation of Labour Relations (as amended) (UAE Labour Law). As such, it reflects a voluntary work-life balance practice, rather than a recognised legal employment category, according to Dilini Loku, senior associate for law firm Gateley Middle East.
“Some companies may offer formal sabbatical policies or career break programmes; however, beyond such arrangements, there is no automatic right or statutory entitlement to extended breaks,” she explains.
“Any leave taken beyond statutory entitlements, such as annual leave, is typically regarded as unpaid leave in accordance with Article 33 of the UAE Labour Law. While employees may legally take unpaid leave, such requests are subject to the employer’s discretion and require approval.”
If an employee resigns to pursue micro-retirement, the employment contract is terminated, and the employer is under no legal obligation to rehire the employee in the future unless specific contractual agreements are in place (such as return-to-work arrangements), which are generally uncommon, Ms Loku adds.
Intercontinental Cup
Namibia v UAE Saturday Sep 16-Tuesday Sep 19
Table 1 Ireland, 89 points; 2 Afghanistan, 81; 3 Netherlands, 52; 4 Papua New Guinea, 40; 5 Hong Kong, 39; 6 Scotland, 37; 7 UAE, 27; 8 Namibia, 27
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
MOUNTAINHEAD REVIEW
Starring: Ramy Youssef, Steve Carell, Jason Schwartzman
Director: Jesse Armstrong
Rating: 3.5/5
Profile
Company name: Jaib
Started: January 2018
Co-founders: Fouad Jeryes and Sinan Taifour
Based: Jordan
Sector: FinTech
Total transactions: over $800,000 since January, 2018
Investors in Jaib's mother company Alpha Apps: Aramex and 500 Startups
Infiniti QX80 specs
Engine: twin-turbocharged 3.5-liter V6
Power: 450hp
Torque: 700Nm
Price: From Dh450,000, Autograph model from Dh510,000
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UAE currency: the story behind the money in your pockets
The specs
AT4 Ultimate, as tested
Engine: 6.2-litre V8
Power: 420hp
Torque: 623Nm
Transmission: 10-speed automatic
Price: From Dh330,800 (Elevation: Dh236,400; AT4: Dh286,800; Denali: Dh345,800)
On sale: Now
How it works
1) The liquid nanoclay is a mixture of water and clay that aims to convert desert land to fertile ground
2) Instead of water draining straight through the sand, it apparently helps the soil retain water
3) One application is said to last five years
4) The cost of treatment per hectare (2.4 acres) of desert varies from $7,000 to $10,000 per hectare
Simran
Director Hansal Mehta
Stars: Kangana Ranaut, Soham Shah, Esha Tiwari Pandey
Three stars
UAE Rugby finals day
Games being played at The Sevens, Dubai
2pm, UAE Conference final
Dubai Tigers v Al Ain Amblers
4pm, UAE Premiership final
Abu Dhabi Harlequins v Jebel Ali Dragons
How to improve Arabic reading in early years
One 45-minute class per week in Standard Arabic is not sufficient
The goal should be for grade 1 and 2 students to become fluent readers
Subjects like technology, social studies, science can be taught in later grades
Grade 1 curricula should include oral instruction in Standard Arabic
First graders must regularly practice individual letters and combinations
Time should be slotted in class to read longer passages in early grades
Improve the appearance of textbooks
Revision of curriculum should be undertaken as per research findings
Conjugations of most common verb forms should be taught
Systematic learning of Standard Arabic grammar
