GCAA: Crash of “Grumman 21T” in Al Ain International Airport

Press release

Published February 28th, 2011 - 12:28 GMT

Al Ain International Airport

The General Civil Aviation Authority of United Arab Emirates (GCAA) confirms that a “Grumman 21T” aircraft crashed yesterday evening 27 February 2011 in Al Ain Airport. The aircraft departed from Al Ain International airport for Riyadh in Saudi Arabia.

Number of victims: 4 fatalities

Time: 16: 07 UTC, 20:07 local time

Shortly after liftoff the aircraft veered to the left and crashed on taxiway kilo. The airport fire & rescue services responded immediately and the accident site was secured by the Al Ain Police.

The aircraft was destroyed by the impact and subsequent fire.

The investigation into this accident is lead by a GCAA Air Accident Investigation team, which was dispatched to the area without delay.

Background Information

General Civil Aviation Authority

The General Civil Aviation Authority was created in 1996 by Federal Cabinet Decree (Law 4) to regulate Civil Aviation and provide designated aviation services with observance to the safety and security to strengthen the aviation industry within the UAE and its upper space. Since 1996 the Authority has made considerable progress and embarked on bold new initiatives to provide a better service to its civil aviation clients and stakeholders. Since 1996 many new projects and innovations have been initiated with generally excellent result, such as modernization of the air traffic control center program, Radar equipments and establishing of new facilities to serve the growth of the civil aviation within the UAE.