the explosion was probably a wheel assembly. While they do have fusible plugs, they may not necessarily melt in time. Can't think of many other pressure vessels large enough to do much. The wing skin over the gear area may be what was seen flying.

Fuel tanks don't explode.

93 seconds from when that recording starts to when the camera hits daylight. Evacuation couldn't have started much before then.
As for the fire, even at the end of the trip, there's a lot of fuel and very little metal. Not even the 777 is designed to protect its contents from a fire of any significant duration or intensity.
With regards to overhead bins, you just can't win. Sure, you can make an announcement on the P/A, but even in the best of circumstances -- native speaker to native listener, perfect sound reproduction with normal background noise, no 400-Hz buzz -- the message is not always resolvable. The more complicated, the harder it gets. Really, if you can get "Evacuate" across, you can't hope for more. Now, add in all the things that go wrong with an airline P/A, and it's foolish to even try.
As for the folks in overhead bins -- there's probably a knock-on effect too: the aisle is blocked, as the person ahead is fishing in the bin. Might as well grab the bag, right?

What happened? Dunno. Flightradar24 has put online their ADS-B data in a CSV format, and they seem to be suggesting that it involves hitting a low altitude (GPS or unadjusted pressure?) of 475 ft, then going up to 600 before settling in at 525/50 (granularity seems to be 25 feet) after 16 seconds.
They could have balked hard. Not AC 621-hard, but hard enough to settle back in. We'll find out.

Holy cow, that evacuation video gave me the creeps. I guess announcements at the beginning of flights regarding the issue of carry-on during an evacuation must become a lot more forceful.

IMHO, if what we see was the fuel in the right wing exploding, it will become a lot more difficult to justify SQ's (lack of) response with the whole wing on fire, irrespective of the different circumstances.

@Sunfish
Why are fuel tank inerting systems now mandated if tanks don't explode?
Ive been to funerals due to a fuel tank exploding so don't talk out of your arse.

EEngr: The evac. video is over 180 sec. long, thus the 45 sec. media report is in error. During normal disembark, at most half the doors are in use, often fewer, and people aren't in much of a hurry - they know they'll just have to to queue at immigration.

Kudos to the team on board for saving lives. EK is very lucky that they walk away with just written off AC. God bless the soul of the fire fighter.
I some where blame the work culture in EK which instils fear among pilots of getting warning letter for any thing and every thing.
The management should wake up.

I wonder how many people on this plane even understood English?
Yes, it's the international language of aviation, and a widely taught second language in India and UAE, but I didn't hear any of the passengers using the English language. Clearly, NOBODY understood the (English only) commands to leave everything.

I'd say we have a 'teaching moment' here for the aviation industry.

EQL, fullwings,

There is no system to measure windshear, it is all from pilot interaction with ATC, so when it is reported, the WS tag goes on until a pilot tells ATC there wasnt any.

With DXB, it has been shown to have headwinds at both ends. There are turns of 180 degrees of winds at altitude.

Surprised at people defending those who grabbed their bags.
Is it really "instinct?"
The crew get off last. Any delay you cause is reducing the chance of them getting out safely. The same people who have been making your flight comfy and running around getting you drinks and extra snacks. The same people who are now trying to keep you alive by getting you off quickly. But it's ok to delay their safe egress because of "instinct"? Nonsense.
It's also instinct to swim when you're in water, but we all want lifejackets.

Could those in the know comment on;
No PA announcement for passengers to remain seated.
No instructions were given over PA to passengers for the duration of the video.
If the PA order to evacuate was given before video rolled then the evac was well beyond 90 seconds.
If no evac order given prior to video rolling why aren't CC telling everyone to remain seated?
We're the CC able to seen the engine sitting on top of the wing before opening right side middle cabin doors?

Did they only open right side doors when they realised that two of the left had side doors were not operative?


Mickjoebill

Regardless of what, why, who caused the Emirates 777 crash today, MASSIVE respect to the cabin crew that evacuated that aircraft without any loss of life. ‪#‎trainingmatters‬

FE Hoppy:

Have it your own way and join the multitude of uninformed media and armchair experts who talk about exploding jet fuel every time there is a crash and fire. Exploding wheels are a recognized safety hazard in an aircraft fire and you have Six(?) of them sitting in a pool of burning jet fuel under the right wing. The wheel rims contain fusible plugs to prevent brake fires causing a tyre explosion but maybe these didn't work as advertised this time.

mickjoebill

Asiana 214 had some issues with slides, check that report for details, can't remember off the top of my head.

Sunfish

TWA800. Concorde

GREAT job by the Cabin Crew in the very worst of circumstances - GREAT respect for the fire crews who risk their lives in these situations (indeed one brave lad lost his life) - and good job ATC for picking a gear issue on final and sorting out the mess afterwards - Tower staff have so many things to monitor in the Cab it's GREAT to hear they still look out the windows and look out for those Pilots :)

I know it might be an unpopular opinion in here but for once I'd like to give some pats on the back to the costa drinkers at EK HQ. The EK social media team and Network ops teams have done a great job in getting information out both about the accident as well as operational disruption information.

Champ

Don't you ladies and gents think that in case there is time to prepare the cabin for the emergency landing while the AC is still airborne, the pax should be given 5 min or so to collect their passports and say, one more item from their bags? So small items that they always try to save by taking the entire bag during the evac.

This could help to save precious time during the evac! You can clearly see that the evac could have been even faster if those mor*ns didn't waste time taking their luggage!

Plus imagine the crew is there with the plane on fire, risking his\her life for those extra 60 secs, so the pax can take their stupid bag?.. The risk is worth for someone's life, not someone's greed of not being able to let go luggage worth 70$..

That video of the evacuation should become part of cabin crew training and viewed by all commercial pilots, it shows how people really react, not the orderly evacuation we see a training.

Amazing job by the flight attendants, they are often some of the nicest attendants and appear also to be great on the safety side of things.

Sunfish
I am not going to be drawn into a protracted physics lesson, but will just say that at no point did FE Hoppy mention FUEL exploding. Believe me he is well qualified to speak and is not one of the uninformed masses to which you allude. I suggest you read and digest the following, paying particular attention to the word 'ullage' and references to fuel tank inerting. I believe these are the funerals he refers to. RIP Lads and to the firefighter who lost his life earlier today.

http://webarchive.nationalarchives.g...f_hercules.pdf

I have "massive" respect for Ppruners who have a complete understanding of what went on inside the cabin and what part CC played, especially since the Twitter video indicates evacuation may have taken longer than 90 seconds.

Unless we constructively criticise there will be no pressure to reevaluate procedures.
With sincere respect to cabin crew on this flight.



Mickjoebill