Flydubai Jet Plunged 4,000 Meters in 40 Seconds Amid Pilot Struggle
Translated & summarized from Mako by baba
The story in 5 lines · by baba
- Flydubai flight plunged 4,000 meters in 40 seconds.
- Incident suspected as terror attempt by co-pilot.
- Captain and passengers fought to regain control.
- Autopilot likely disengaged during cockpit struggle.
- Recovery was extremely dangerous, narrowly avoiding crash.
A dramatic incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ 1073 en route to Tel Aviv, which saw the aircraft plummet nearly 4,000 meters in just 40 seconds, is under investigation by security officials. Initial assessments suggest a potential terror event, with evidence indicating the co-pilot from Oman attempted to crash the plane while the Emirati captain fought to regain control. Some Israeli passengers reportedly assisted in subduing the co-pilot. The aircraft was carrying 174 passengers, including 27 children.
Retired Israeli Air Force fighter pilot and former El Al captain Alon Pergo explained to N12 that a struggle in the cockpit could have caused the autopilot to disengage. Significant movement of the controls, possibly during the fight, might have led to the autopilot disconnecting and initiating the steep dive. Pergo emphasized this is a professional assessment based on available information and his experience with similar aircraft, with flight data expected to provide a more precise account.
Pergo described the dive as "extremely extreme," noting that it could have subjected passengers and crew to negative G-forces, potentially disorienting the attacker. He stated that had the plane continued its descent for another 40 seconds, a crash would have been imminent, calling the event "hair-raising." The recovery from such a dive is also perilous, as pulling up too aggressively can cause positive G-forces that could structurally damage or break the aircraft.
Damage observed on the plane's tail after landing in Saudi Arabia is consistent with the high speeds during the dive or the subsequent recovery maneuver. Pergo also addressed cockpit security, suggesting that the captain likely managed to open the reinforced door briefly, allowing passengers to intervene, as external breaches are extremely difficult. He also touched upon varying international security protocols for flight crews, noting that Israel subjects foreign crews to the same screening as passengers.
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