Flydubai Jet Plunges 16,000 Feet After Co-Pilot Attack
- A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Dubai to Israel plunged 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds on Wednesday after an attack on the flight deck, ndtv.com...
- Aviation instructor Alberto Paduanelli recreated the descent in a flight simulator for Reuters at ALPA Simulation in Sherfield on Loddon, England.
- A plunge of 16,000 feet (4,877 metres) over 30 seconds will feel like you are over on a very, very vertical roller coaster.
A flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8 flying from Dubai to Israel plunged 16,000 feet in about 30 seconds on Wednesday after an attack on the flight deck, ndtv.com reported. The steep dive subjected the aircraft and passengers to extreme g-forces before passengers overpowered the co-pilot and a reserve crew landed the plane safely. Two sources with knowledge of the investigation told Reuters the attacker was Omani national Hammam al-Hammami.
Simulating The 16,000-Foot Dive
Aviation instructor Alberto Paduanelli recreated the descent in a flight simulator for Reuters at ALPA Simulation in Sherfield on Loddon, England. He explained that a drop of 4,877 meters in half a minute feels like a very vertical roller coaster. Paduanelli noted that the aircraft autopilot disconnected before the plunge, causing the jet to accelerate rapidly and subject unstrapped passengers to negative g-forces that would lift their bodies from their seats.
A plunge of 16,000 feet (4,877 metres) over 30 seconds will feel like you are over on a very, very vertical roller coaster.
Alberto Paduanelli
Withstanding Extreme G-Forces
US President Donald Trump praised the aircraft manufacturer on Truth Social for designing a jet capable of enduring the intense aerodynamic strain. Trump stated that the Boeing 737 MAX withstood g-forces and strain far beyond its design expectations. Paduanelli called it a miracle that no one besides the captain was hurt during the high-speed dive.
Investigating The Co-Pilot Background
Investigators have begun uncovering details about Hammami’s aviation history across multiple countries. Royal Air Maroc confirmed he completed a three-month training program with the airline in 2025 but was rejected for a permanent job. Buckinghamshire New University in Britain stated he took a distance-learning course in aviation management without pilot training. The Australian Federal Police also announced that authorities are investigating his links to Australia, where a source familiar with the case said he studied at a Melbourne university.