A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 bound from Dubai to Israel plunged about 16,000 feet (4,877 metres) in roughly 30 seconds after a co-pilot attacked the captain with an emergency crash axe, according to the UAE prosecutor general. Flight FZ1073 was eventually levelled out and landed safely after passengers restrained the attacker and a reserve pilot crew took control.
Aviation instructor Alberto Paduanelli, who recreated the descent in a flight simulator for Reuters, said the incident would have felt like a “very, very vertical roller coaster.” He said the aircraft’s autopilot disconnected before the jet began accelerating rapidly, creating extreme aerodynamic strain on the airframe, crew and passengers. During such a descent, negative G-forces can make an unrestrained passenger’s body lift from the seat.
The UAE prosecutor general described the attack as a “terrorist attack.” Two sources familiar with the investigation identified the co-pilot as Hammam al-Hammami, an Omani national, although UAE authorities had not publicly confirmed his identity. flydubai said the circumstances remained under investigation, while Oman had not commented.
US President Donald Trump praised the Boeing aircraft for withstanding forces beyond its expected limits. Boeing did not respond to a Reuters request for comment. Paduanelli said the safe outcome was fortunate, given the severity of the descent and the presence of reserve pilots.
Royal Air Maroc said al-Hammami completed three months of training with the airline in 2025 but was not hired. Buckinghamshire New University said he took a distance-learning course in aviation management but received no pilot training. Australian authorities are also investigating his links to the country, with a source saying he studied at a Melbourne university.
Original Source: https://www.ndtv.com/world-news/vertical-roller-coaster-expert-explains-flydubai-flights-sudden-plunge-12138441#publisher=newsstand
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Publish Date: 2026-10-05 00:28:00
