FlyDubai 737 MAX Endures Extreme Dive After Mid-Flight Attack

A FlyDubai Boeing 737 MAX aircraft endured extreme stress during a mid-flight incident this week, narrowly avoiding a catastrophic failure. Approximately two hours into the flight, the first officer attacked the captain, pushing the plane's nose down to a 39-degree angle. The aircraft plummeted 17,400 feet in just 92 seconds, reaching a speed close to Mach 0.96, far exceeding the 737 MAX's maximum operating speed of Mach 0.82.

During the rapid descent, the plane experienced violent turbulence, shock waves, and extreme gravitational forces. When passengers rushed the cockpit, one managed to pull the yoke, slowing the plane from nearly 600 knots to 390 knots in 43 seconds. This maneuver subjected the airframe to an estimated 3 Gs, surpassing the 737 MAX's operating limit of 2.5 Gs. Despite sustaining damage, including a snapped rudder, two cabin passengers took control and safely landed the aircraft at Tabuk Airport.

The 737 MAX remains at Tabuk Airport, where experts will assess the extent of the damage. Tony Farina, an aerodynamicist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, expressed doubt about the plane's future usability, suggesting it may require a thorough inspection at the very least.