News reports are coming in of a UPS Boeing 747-400 Freighter registration N571UP crashing at Dubai. UPS flight 5X-6 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates to Cologne, Germany crashed at Dubai around 20:00 local (16:00Z). The company has released a statement (read below the fold).
As per Avherald,
A UPS Boeing 747-400, registration N571UP, was on approach to Dubai’s runway 30L, declared emergency and veered off course crashing onto a free space west of Dubai Silicon Oasis and Al-Ain Highway (E66), about half way between Emirates Road (E311) and road E611. Both crew perished in the crash.
I just spotted the next serial registration Boeing 747-400 Freighter N572UP at Mumbai earlier this morning, before returning to Bangalore.
UPS has released this statement
Atlanta, September 03, 2010
A UPS cargo plane has been involved in an accident in Dubai.
At approximately 12 p.m. EST, UPS Flight 6 from Dubai, UAE, to Cologne, DE, a 747-400 with two crew-members on board crashed on take-off. At this time, we have not confirmed any casualties.
“Safety is a key priority for UPS,” said Airline & International Operations Manager Bob Lekites. “This incident is very unfortunate and we will do everything we can to find the cause,” said Lekites. “Our thoughts go out to the crewmembers involved in the incident and their families.”
“We will also release more information as it becomes available, in cooperation with government authorities. We will not speculate about the cause. Until then, we ask for your patience in this difficult time.”
Reuters is confirming recovery of the two bodies from the crash site.
N571UP was a relatively new aircraft. A Boeing 747-44AF (4A is UPS’s customer code with Boeing), it’s construction number is 35668. It was delivered to UPS less than three years ago this month on September 27, 2007.