Flydubai Plane Plummeted 4,000 Meters After Cockpit Control Yoke Ripped Off

New details have emerged regarding a dramatic incident on a Flydubai flight bound for Israel, revealing the severe damage sustained by the aircraft during a steep dive. According to information obtained by N12, the plane lost approximately 4,000 meters of altitude in just one minute, a descent so violent that the control yoke in the cockpit was torn off. A second, off-duty pilot crew who happened to be on board managed to regain control of the aircraft and land it safely in Saudi Arabia despite the extreme conditions.

The pilots faced not only the terrifying loss of altitude but also significant damage to the plane's control systems. The presence of the additional flight crew proved crucial; they entered the cockpit after the incident and stabilized the aircraft, enabling a complex landing in Saudi Arabia. The new information underscores the critical state the plane was in for several minutes, with the rapid descent and system damage making control and landing exceptionally challenging.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the incident was a serious security event, suggesting the pilot likely attempted to crash the plane. He recounted a conversation with a passenger who described the plane entering a spin and diving. According to Netanyahu, passengers and crew managed to breach the cockpit, neutralize the attacking pilot, and stabilize the aircraft with the help of the additional flight crew.

Defense Minister Israel Katz was more definitive, calling the event a "jihadist terror attempt" that was thwarted by the bravery of Israeli passengers. He asserted that the attacker's sole intention was to crash the plane with everyone on board.