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British passengers were caught up in mid-air terror after a Emirates airline plane caught fire in mid-air and dramatically crash-landed at Dubai International Airport.

Twenty-four Brits were among the 300 passengers on board the Boeing 777-300 jet when it smashed down onto the runway at around 1pm local time (10am UK time).

Miraculously, no-one was seriously hurt in the crash and passengers were evacuated just minutes before the plane exploded into flames.

The three-hour flight took off from Trivandrum International Airport in India at around 6am UK time before the captain is understood to have sent out and emergency signal shortly before the plane was due to land.

Eye-witnesses described seeing huge plumes of smoke rising from the plane before it crashed down onto the runway.

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Those on board the plane said they had little idea something was wrong with the flight until they approached for landing.

Jerin George, from Spring Valley, New York, told Mirror.co.uk the jet's engine 'blew' as soon as it smashed into the ground at Dubai International Airport.

He added that the plane 'exploded' just seconds after he and other petrified fliers were evacuated from the aircraft by cabin crew members.

(Image: EPA) (Image: Twitter/@kbhagava)

"The engine blew away right after landing. As soon as everyone got out, the plane blew up."

He added: "We are all safe and sound inside the airport now. Thank God for saving our life from a tragic incident."

He said: "We noticed something wasn't right when the landing started taking place.

One passenger told the Khaleej Times: "Technically (I have no idea what happened but while landing something abnormal took place on the runway.

(Image: Facebook/Kuwait UPTO Date) (Image: Facebook/Kuwait UPTO Date)

"We saw smoke inside the aircraft and all the emergency doors were opened.

"I pulled my daughters and took my travel documents and slid down the slides."

Photographs of the incident posted on social media showed a

plane lying crumpled on its belly on the tarmac with black smoke

pouring from its upper section.

Dramatic video also showed the plane skidding across the runway as it came in to land before exploding in a ball of fire shortly after passengers were evacuated.

Firefighters managed to bring the fire under control, and the destroyed fuselage of the plane was seen lying on the tarmac as an investigation was immediately launched.

All departure flights from Dubai international, the world's busiest airport for international travel, were delayed until further notice, authorities said.

The majority of passengers - 226 in total - were Indian.

Many Indian migrant workers travel to United Arab Emirates and other Gulf nations along the popular route.

Early indications suggested the plane, a Boeing 777, was not at fault and other factors would have been involved, according to aviation expert David Learmount.

He said: "The images tell us nothing except the aircraft eventually caught fire, but it certainly doesn't tell us why it did

"It was an incredibly hot day, it was very nearly 50 degrees.

"If you get a damaged wing and fuel comes out of it, it vaporises in temperatures like that and vapour is highly inflammable."

An Emirates spokesman said: "Emirates can confirm that today, 3rd August 2016, flight EK521 travelling from Trivandrum International Airport in Thiruvananthapuram, India to Dubai has been involved in an accident at Dubai International Airport.

"There were 282 passengers and 18 crew on board.

"The Boeing 777 aircraft, departed at 10.19am from Trivandrum International Airport and was scheduled to land at 12.50pm at Dubai International Airport.

(Image: Greg Buchanan) (Image: Google)

"We can confirm that there are no fatalities among our passengers and crew. All passengers and crew are accounted for and safe.

"We are expecting a eight-hour network wide delay."

Anyone concerned a family member may be involved can call 0203 4508853.

Were you on board the plane or witness the crash landing? Call Mirror.co.uk on 0207 2933 759.