Investigators say Emirates flight to Washington flew too low

DUBAI, United Arab Emirates (AP) — A protracted-haul Emirates flight heading to Washington in December did not correctly climb and flew extremely low and quick over the city-state earlier than later gaining altitude over the ocean, investigators acknowledged Thursday.

Nobody was injured within the Dec. 19 flight, however such low altitudes and excessive speeds could cause injury to an plane and will increase the danger of placing a tall constructing. Monitoring knowledge suggests Flight No. EK231 was simply 200 ft off the bottom at factors because it flew over Dubai’s Deira neighborhood earlier than reaching the Persian Gulf.

The preliminary report by the Common Civil Aviation Authority mentioned the feminine pilot flying the Boeing 777 for the nighttime departure had put the aircraft’s altitude selector to 4,000 ft, which is customary. The pilot additionally mentioned she adopted the directions of the aircraft’s onboard laptop, the report mentioned.

Nonetheless, the aircraft flew low and quick. Investigators say they recovered knowledge from the aircraft, however the cockpit voice recorder had been “overwritten,” with out elaborating.

Investigators say their ultimate report will give attention to “the basis explanation for the shallow climb of the plane and the crew efficiency.”

Emirates, a state-owned airline in Dubai, declined to remark Thursday. The Air Present, an internet site targeted on the aviation trade, first reported on the incident.