The Airport Authority's salvage team has entered the final phase of the removal operation, preparing to lift the remaining wreckage of last week's crashed cargo plane from the sea.
The North Runway remained closed this afternoon as salvage vessels deployed steel cables to secure the fuselage of the Emirates SkyCargo Boeing 747-400 freighter, which veered off the runway during landing last Monday (Oct 20).
The aircraft subsequently struck an airport patrol vehicle, killing two security officers aboard before plunging into the sea.
The recovery operation follows days of progress in retrieving key components, including the aircraft's engines, landing gear, and tail section.
Notably, the authorities have confirmed that the aircraft's black box has been recovered and sent to a laboratory for preliminary analysis, with a report expected to be published within a month, followed by safety recommendations.
The police announced on Saturday (Oct 25) that the four involved crew members had confirmed negative results for alcohol and drugs, ruling out substance impairment as a factor in the crash.
The Association for the Rights of Industrial Accident Victims, which is assisting the families of the deceased officers, has called for continued government support and urged Emirates Airlines to provide direct assistance to the victims' families.
The group emphasized that while death gratuity has been distributed, full work injury compensation typically takes over a year to process, leaving the families facing financial uncertainty.
Additionally, they urged the government to lead coordination efforts among various authorities to ensure that all involved parties complete the investigation process before leaving the city.
