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– An Emirates Boeing 787-9 has to brake urgently just before takeoff (illustrative image).
What really happened in Melbourne on the Emirates Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner on Sunday January 5? As reported The Independentbased on information from The Nationalflight EY461 remained docked as it prepared to take off with 271 passengers on board. The pilots indeed achieved a emergency braking on the tarmac as the aircraft was about to take off. “The crew members decided to abort the takeoff for technical reasons. The plane was brought back safely (…) and the emergency services were present as a precaution”confirmed Emirates in a press release.
In total, the 289 people on board (271 passengers as well as 18 crew members) were released safely. According to information from our colleagues, black smoke would have appeared under the plane forcing emergency braking. Subsequently, the landing gear tires broke outbut it has not yet been determined whether this burst was subsequent to braking or if it had occurred before.
Boeing plane narrowly avoids disaster due to completely frozen runway
“We were convinced we were going to die”
On the tarmac, fire crews rushed to stop the fire. Two of the tires were badly damaged. “Emergency services applied foam to the plane’s landing gear tires, which is a common precaution after aborting a high-speed takeoff”Emirates said. Questioned on the Australian channel 9News, a passenger saw his life flash before him : “We were convinced we were going to die,” he said, calling the braking “the most terrifying moment of [sa] vie».
In the process, Emirates assured that it was doing everything possible to ensure the continuation of the journey of passengers who had to go to Abu Dhabi. She regretted the inconvenience caused to travelers and stressed that the “passenger safety remained its top priority”.
