Voice recorder found and pilots named as investigation into Dubai crash steps up

The pilots of the UPS freighter which crashed in Dubai on Friday night have been named as Captain Doug Lampe, 48, of Kentucky, and First Officer Matthew Bell, 38, of Florida. The information was released last night along with news that the aircraft's voice recorder has been found.

The pilots died when the Boeing 747-400 crashed inside the Nad al Sheba Military Camp at about 8pm local time (GMT 16:00h) on Friday close to the main Dubai to Al Ain highway. The crash occurred shortly after the aircraft took off from Dubai International Airport en route to Cologne, Germany.

"This is a terrible tragedy, and all of us at UPS extend our deepest sympathies to the families and friends of both of these crew members," UPS CEO Scott Davis said in a statement. "Our thoughts and prayers will continue to be with them during this difficult time."

According to the online statement from UPS, the Jumbo was just three years old and current on all maintenance checks..

Investigators from the GCAA and Dubai police have found one of the flight recorders from the freighter among the smouldering wreckage which extends of an area of up to 1500 metres. This is beleived to be the voice recorder. The second "black box" containing the flight's data recorder has still to be found

According to reports from DCAA on Friday, the pilot radioed air traffic control shortly after take-off to report a fire on board. He was told to return to the airport, but missed the approach before disappearing from radar.