Dubai airport fire: 24 British passengers on board Emirates plane that crash-landed and burst into flames

Officials say 300 passengers and crew are safe after being safely evacuated

(EPA)

More than 20 British passengers were among hundreds of people on board an Emirates plane that crash-landed at Dubai International Airport.

The smoking plane skidded along the tarmac as it landed on Wednesday afternoon before being engulfed by a huge fireball that gutted much of the aircraft.

A spokesperson for Emirates said all 282 passengers and 18 crew members were safe, with no serious injuries reported.

A statement said flight EK521 was involved in an “operational incident” during its scheduled landing in Dubai as it arrived from Trivandrum International Airport in India.

“We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe,” it continued.

“The main priority remains with those involved and offering support to concerned family and friends. Dedicated telephone lines are now active for family members.”

All departures and arrivals were temporarily suspended at Dubai International Airport and Emirates said it expected a network-wide delay lasting eight hours.

Phone lines have been set up for support concerned family and friends of those on board. Anyone in the UK can call 0203 450 8853, in the US 0018113502081 and 8002111 in the UAE.

The full list of nationalities of the flight’s passengers and crew on board are:

226 - India

24 - UK

11 - UAE

6 - US

6 - Saudi Arabia

5 - Turkey

4 - Ireland

2 - Australia

2 - Brazil

2 - Germany

2 - Malaysia

2 - Thailand

1 - Croatia

1 - Egypt

1 - Bosnia & Herzegovina

1 - Lebanon

1 - Philippines

1 - South Africa

1 - Switzerland

1 - Tunisia

Were you or your friends and relatives affected by the crash? Contact us by emailing lizzie.dearden@independent.co.uk.