Mid-air encounter: Small plane plunges as it flies under Emirates' superjumbo

An investigation is now underway involving a private plane that went into a free fall and nearly crashed on its way to Abu Dhabi after it flew close to an Emirates superjumbo.

The German aircraft with nine people on board was cruising over the Arabian Sea on January 7 when it encountered an Australia-bound Airbus A380-800, flying in the opposite direction.

The jet then passed 1,000 feet under the giant aircraft and found itself flipping over three times before plunging 10,000 feet due to the so-called “wake turbulence”. A wake turbulence is formed behind an aircraft as it passes through the air, which can send a nearby aircraft out of control.

Both engines of the German aircraft were shut down and passengers got injured in the process, but luckily, the crew regained control over it and managed to secure an emergency landing in Muscat, Oman.

While the incident happened more than a month ago, it was reported only recently by the Aviation Herald.

Emirates, in a statement sent to Gulf News on Wednesday, confirmed that an investigation into the matter is now underway. It pointed out that it always follows regulations and protocols when operating all its aircraft.

“Safety is our number one priority and all of Emirates’ flight operations are carefully managed within all applicable regulations and protocols,” a spokesperson said.

Further details of the near-mishap will reportedly be disclosed by the German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Incident Investigation soon.

The Aviation Herald said that there have been a number of wake turbulence encounters involving huge passenger jets before, and Air Traffic Control personnel have recently been instructed to be extra careful with A380s crossing above other planes

source : gulfnews