Simulator Test Recreates Flydubai Terror Flight, Stunning Experts

A special experiment conducted on a Boeing 737 MAX simulator aimed to reconstruct the terrifying moments of the Flydubai terror flight and assess how close it came to disaster. Aviation experts participated in the test, which demonstrated how pushing the control column immediately disengaged the autopilot, sending the aircraft into a steep dive from 34,000 feet. The simulation highlighted the critical moments in the cockpit, revealing how the plane was narrowly saved from a freefall before the situation was brought under control.

The simulation also explored hypothetical scenarios, such as the outcome if pilots were among the passengers and whether an individual without aviation experience could land the plane. The findings indicated that while a functioning autopilot can allow for a remotely guided landing, structural damage from the dive's angle and high speed would make a manual landing nearly impossible. In such a situation, survival chances plummet without professionals in the cockpit.

Former El Al Captain Alon Pereg, who observed the experiment, described the sequence of events as a rare combination of factors that averted a mass casualty incident. Pereg attributed the flight's survival to a series of "miracles," including the captain's recovery and ability to open the door, a woman's awareness of the unfolding danger, the heroic actions of Israeli passengers who fought back, and a skilled crew capable of piloting the aircraft.