There has indeed been some confusion in the press quoting a DA42 but INTERNATIONAL FLIGHT NETWORK, as per below, state G-MDME which, if the call sign is correct, is a DA62 and not a DA42 as they state. In addition, Flight Calibration Services of the U.K. only operate DA62 and Piper Chieftain aircraft according to their website.
It would appear that Honeywell, who secured the contract, sun-contracted the calibration work to Flight Calibration Services who, it is reported, has two DA62’s on station in the U.A.E.
Quote
Flight operations at Dubai International Airport were temporarily halted after a four-seater aircraft crashed close to the airport on Thursday evening.
The two year-old Diamond DA42 Twin Star airplane, registered in the UK as G-MDME, was carrying out calibration flights for terrestrial navigation systems at Dubai Airport. It was operated by Flight Calibration Services, a British company specialising in these navigation calibration missions.
All four people on board were killed in the crash three miles south of the airfield at approximately 7:30 pm local time. According to the General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) of the United Arab Emirates, there were three people of British nationality and one of South African nationality inside the aircraft.
Following the accident, all flight operations at Dubai Airport were halted for 45 minutes, causing inbound flights to hold or divert.
The cause of this crash is not yet known. The Government of Dubai has confirmed that the GCAA sent teams to the site and is investigating the accident.
Unquote
Agree, far too early to speculate the cause but assume such work is low level.
Question: How does it take four people to calibrate navigational aids in a DA 62 and what instruments would those be?
Emir, what risks should ATC have been aware of? Are you implying that ATC bares some responsibility for the crash?