FlyDubai Boeing 737 MAX Endures Extreme Nosedive Near Speed of Sound
A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by FlyDubai endured extreme stress during a mid-flight incident that pushed the jet to the brink of structural failure. Around 9:21 a.m., the first officer attacked the captain, forcing the plane into a steep 39-degree nosedive from 34,000 feet. Over 92 seconds, the aircraft plummeted 17,400 feet, reaching a velocity close to the speed of sound, Mach 0.96, far exceeding its maximum operating speed of Mach 0.82.
The violent dive subjected the airframe to severe stress, including shock waves and control system damage. As passengers and crew rushed the cockpit, one individual pulled the yoke to halt the descent, slowing the plane from nearly 600 knots to 390 knots in 43 seconds. This maneuver generated an estimated 3 Gs of force, surpassing the 737 MAX’s 2.5 Gs limit. Despite sustaining damage, including a snapped rudder, the two pilots who took control managed to stabilize the aircraft and land safely at Tabuk Airport.
The Boeing 737 MAX remains grounded at Tabuk Airport, awaiting extensive inspections to determine if the high-speed dive and gravitational forces caused irreparable harm. Tony Farina, an aerodynamicist at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, suggested the aircraft may never fly again, emphasizing the need for a thorough examination.