Flydubai Plane Damaged Beyond Repair in Extreme Hijacking Incident
A Boeing 737 MAX aircraft operated by flydubai suffered significant damage during an attempted hijacking on September 30, 2026. The plane was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the pilots took control from the suspected hijackers. According to satellite tracking data, the aircraft reached an estimated speed of Mach 0.96, well beyond its normal cruising speed.
The extreme speeds, angles, and G-forces experienced by the plane likely caused damage to its rudder, which controls yaw movement. The tail section of the undamaged flydubai 737 MAX was compared to the damaged aircraft in images provided by AFP. Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University aerodynamicist Tony Farina stated that he is 'not sure it can ever be used again.'
The plane fell over 17,400 feet in just 92 seconds at a 39° nose-down attitude, significantly steeper than the standard descent angle of 3°. The pilots managed to bring the aircraft back under control, but sustained further stress during the recovery.