UPS 747-400 crash

Very unfortunate news of a 747 operated by UPS crashing yesterday
evening a few miles from where I stay.

There are confirmed reports of the pilot having declared Mayday
shortly after takeoff due to a fire in the cockpit. There are two
types of versions of this accident - of it having been "on approach"
and "following takeoff" - and both appear in a way correct, although
the latter is more apropos. The location of the crash site and the
flight path suggest that the aircraft was given the an emergency
landing option at the newly-constructed Jebel Ali airport. The plane
was just over 3 years old.

From all eyewitness accounts, the two pilots did a gallant bit of
piloting at the end to avoid residential areas and a busy highway
there. RIP to the two souls.

Ramapriya