UPDATE: 08Aug2016
Sandy Murdock has an excellent article on the JDA Journal website detailing the high degree of professionalism by the Emirates EK521 cabin crew in evacuating the passengers from the plane prior to it being engulfed in flames. Passengers attempting to retrieve their belongings were met with crew member imperatives such as “Leave the bag! Jump and slide!” Murdock explains how the requirement to be able to evacuate all passengers from airliners within 90 seconds was imposed by the FAA in the 1960s. The aircraft design and cabin crew training needed to comply with this requirement undoubtedly save numerous lives in Dubai this month.

03Aug2016
As reported by Channel News Asia and other news outlets, there has been a total hull loss of the Boeing 777 flying today as Emirates EK521. The video and images are dramatic but the fact that all aboard were evacuated safely is another testament to the progress that has been made by the entire airline industry in dealing with emergency situations.