@red_october

The engine intake is pointing toward the flaps. Wing definitely not inverted....engine broke away and ended on top of the wing.

Emirates airline plane 'crash lands at Dubai International Airport after catching fire in mid-air' - Mirror Online
Mid air fire probably more than explains expedited emergency landing and inability to get the gear down.
This might be one of the best possible outcomes in hindsight.

Emirates twitter feed is reporting no serious injuries.... as relayed by the radio. In terms of weather, it is pretty toasty 49C, and there is currently no significant wind in Dubai (5 miles away)

Have heard from a friend who's at DXB this Morning that Smoke could be seen while it was on approach.

Good job involved for getting it down and everybody off safely.

Slide going for a joyflight...
 

From the AVHerald:

'According to ATC recordings the aircraft performed a normal approach and landing, there was no priority or emergency declared. Upon contacting tower tower reminded the crew of lowering the gear and cleared the aircraft to land. Another approach reported on tower frequency.

About 2 minutes after EK-521 reported on tower tower instructed the aircraft to climb to 4000 feet (no go-around call heard from the crew), the crew acknowledged climbing to 4000 feet, a few seconds later tower instructs the next arrival to go around and alerts emergency services. The position of the aircraft is described near the end of the runway.'

Definitely top of the wing. In the video filmed closed to the fire truck on scene the tear in the upper wing surface where that piece detached can be seen turned up/ripped

Skynews has jumped the shark....an explosion..."this slightly changes the trajectory of this story"!...surely it's just the slide blowing away?

Susier, sounds a bit strange for the tower to have to remind the crew to lower the gear?

Reports that the explosion is the wing fuel tank, but i thought it might be a tire or something?

Found this on the Middle East forum.
Apparently tried to go around, selected Gear up but hit the ground.......

http://avherald.com/h?article=49c12302&opt=0

Some pretty intense burning - hats off to the cabin crew & flight deck for a great evac.

https://twitter.com/radio_101/status/760779491769737216

The audio is terrible, but...LiveATC.Net ATC Audio Archives
Select "OMDB Tower Both" (or frequency 118.75). Time: "0830-0900Z" recording.
5 minutes in you hear Emirates 521 accepting clearance to land, then told to climb to 4000.
10 minutes in you hear all aircraft being diverted.

It is being reported elsewhere that the aircraft was instructed to go-around by ATC and the aircraft impacted the runway after the gear was retracted.

Windshear?
 

AVherald reports;

"...was on final approach to Dubai's runway 12L at 12:41L (08:41Z) but attempted to go around from low height. The aircraft however did not climb, but after retracting the gear touched down on the runway and burst into flames...."

Windshear was also reported.

Possibly the crew decided to go around due to windshear, but got caught in it and hit the runway?

Will more likely be upper wing surface. Slides are inflated using a combination of a small amount of highly compressed gas, and a one way venturi valve. As the compressed gas flows past the valve, it draws ambient air through the century and inflates the slide. To deflate all you do is open the valve flap with your hand.

I wonder if there was any doubt about evacuating? :hmm:

Probably not I trust.:ok:

That sounds like the most plausible explanation yet... It definitely impacted gear up :eek:

EK521 since it wasn't mentioned earlier ...

Changing the Aircraft configuration during a Windshear escape Manoeuvre??? I hope not