Investigation Summary
The accident occurred in conditions of significant wind shear and high ambient temperatures (48°C). During the landing flare, the aircraft remained airborne longer than expected due to a shift in wind direction. The crew attempted a go-around after the wheels had momentarily touched the runway. Because the aircraft had touched down, the autothrottle system's 'TO/GA' (Take-off/Go-around) switches were inhibited. The pilots, expecting the automation to manage engine power, did not manually advance the thrust levers. The aircraft began to climb but quickly stalled as the engines remained at idle. It struck the runway tail-first, followed by the right engine nacelle, which detached and started a massive fire.
Final Conclusions
The investigation concluded that the primary cause was the flight crew's failure to effectively monitor the primary flight instruments and verify that the engines were producing sufficient thrust for the go-around. The crew's reliance on automation, specifically the expectation that the TO/GA switches would automatically increase thrust despite the wheels having touched the ground, led to the loss of airspeed and subsequent impact.
Video Analysis
The Crash of Emirates Flight 521 | Mentour Pilot — A detailed breakdown of the human factors and technical inhibitors that led to the crash of a Boeing 777 in Dubai, focusing on the go-around procedure and autothrottle logic.
Watch on YouTube ↗If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Systems & Failure Modes
Autothrottle (A/T)
The system that automatically controls engine power; it was inhibited from providing go-around thrust because the aircraft had touched the ground.
TO/GA Switches
Take-off/Go-around switches located on the thrust levers used to command maximum power for a go-around.
Wind Shear Detection
Systems designed to alert pilots to sudden changes in wind speed or direction, which were active during the approach.
Interesting Facts
- 01This was the first hull loss in the history of Emirates airline.
- 02The ambient temperature at the time of the crash was 48°C (118°F).
- 03The Boeing 777 autothrottle logic inhibits TO/GA switches once the aircraft has touched down on the runway.
- 04All 300 passengers and crew successfully evacuated within minutes of the crash.
- 05The aircraft involved, A6-EMW, was 13 years old at the time of the accident.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Go-Around Procedure Training
Emirates and other Boeing 777 operators enhanced training for 'balked landings' and manual thrust application during go-arounds initiated after touchdown.
Autothrottle Logic Awareness
Safety bulletins were issued to emphasize that TO/GA switches may not function as expected if the aircraft's wheels have touched the runway.