Plane strikes Emirates airliner at Khartoum airport

Passengers were boarding flight EK734, bound for Dubai, when it was clipped by a plane owned by the Dutch airline KLM. 

The Emirates plane was carrying 129 passengers, while the Dutch aircraft, which was destined for Amsterdam, had 144 people on board. There were no injuries. In a statement yesterday, Emirates said: "EK734, an Airbus A340-500, was boarding passengers in Khartoum last night when there was contact from a passing KLM Airbus A330-200.

"Emirates' passengers and crew were disembarked safely without injury, accommodated in hotels overnight and continued to Dubai on a replacement aircraft today. Emirates is assessing slight damage to an area near the tail of its aircraft." EK734 had been due to depart from Khartoum at 7.15pm local time. An Airbus 330-200 was sent to pick up passengers, who departed yesterday afternoon and were due to land at 9.15pm.

Emirates also issued an apology to customers for the delay caused by the incident. An investigation began immediately after passengers had been evacuated. Khartoum International Airport has one runway that is used for both take-off and landing. melshoush@thenational.ae * With additional reporting by Ramona Ruiz