Investigation Summary
UPS Flight 6 departed Dubai at 18:50 local time. Approximately 21 minutes into the flight, a fire alarm triggered for the forward main deck. The fire, fueled by over 81,000 lithium batteries, quickly breached the cargo liner and attacked the aircraft's systems. The heat and smoke were so intense that they melted the elevator control cables and the oxygen supply line for the Captain's mask. As the cockpit filled with smoke, the pilots were unable to see their instruments or the radio panels, forcing them to rely on other aircraft to relay communications to Air Traffic Control. About seven minutes into the emergency, Captain Lampe's primary oxygen supply failed abruptly with no warning. He relinquished command to First Officer Bell and left his seat to search for a portable Emergency Reserve Oxygen System (EROS) cylinder stowed behind him. However, he was overcome by smoke and hypoxia, collapsing on the flight deck floor. Bell attempted a visual approach to Dubai using the autopilot, which remained functional and capable of controlling the aircraft despite the loss of manual pitch control. However, with severely limited visibility and the inability to see the runway or instruments, he was unable to align the aircraft. The 747 passed over the airport and eventually crashed into a military installation during a subsequent turn.
Final Conclusions
The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the UAE concluded that the fire was caused by the autoignition of lithium batteries contained in a cargo pallet. The investigation found that the cargo liner failed to contain the fire, allowing it to damage the control systems and the oxygen supply. The entry of smoke into the cockpit was exacerbated by the shutdown of air conditioning pack 1, which under normal conditions would have helped maintain positive pressure to keep smoke out of the flight deck.
Photographic Evidence (1)
Video Analysis
UPS Airlines Flight 6: Lithium Battery Fire and Control Failure — This video examines the 2010 crash of a Boeing 747-400F in Dubai after a cargo fire disabled flight controls and blinded the crew. It details the investigation into lithium battery safety and emergency procedures.
If playback is blocked, the owner has disabled embedding — use the link above.
Airframe & Maintenance
Crew Experience
Captain
Douglas Lampe, 48 years old.
First Officer
Matthew Bell, 38 years old.
Systems & Failure Modes
Cargo Liner
The fire-resistant material designed to contain a fire within the cargo hold; it failed to prevent the fire from spreading to the aircraft's structure and control systems.
Elevator Control Cables
Mechanical cables that transmit pilot inputs to the elevators; these were burned through by the fire, leaving the crew unable to control the aircraft's pitch.
Air Conditioning Pack 1
One of three units providing pressurized air; its shutdown allowed smoke to migrate from the cargo hold into the cockpit.
Interesting Facts
- 01The aircraft was carrying more than 81,000 lithium batteries and other combustible materials.
- 02The fire destroyed the primary flight control system, specifically the elevator cables, leaving the pilots with no pitch control.
- 03Thick smoke in the cockpit prevented the pilots from seeing their flight instruments or the radio frequency selectors.
- 04The Captain's oxygen supply was severed by the fire, leading to his incapacitation from hypoxia after he left his seat to find a portable supply.
- 05The aircraft was one of the newest Boeing 747-400Fs built (Serial Number 35668, Line Number 1393), with only 10,000 flight hours.
Safety Actions & Advisories
Lithium Battery Restrictions
The FAA issued a safety alert and subsequent restrictions on the bulk carriage of lithium batteries on passenger flights.
747-400F Checklist Revision
Boeing modified fire checklists to ensure at least one air conditioning pack remains operational during a fire to prevent smoke accumulation in the cockpit.
Known Controversies & Unanswered Questions
AQAP Responsibility Claim
Reference ↗Al-Qaeda in the Arabian Peninsula claimed they caused the crash with a bomb, but the FBI and NTSB found no evidence of an explosion or terrorist involvement.