‘Like A Vertical Roller Coaster’: Expert Explains Flydubai’s 16,000-Foot Plunge And Risks To Passengers

A major aviation disaster was narrowly averted on September 30 when Captain Smit Machchhar and several passengers of flydubai flight FZ1073 reportedly overpowered the co-pilot after he allegedly attempted to crash the aircraft.

The Dubai-Tel Aviv flight plunged around 16,000 feet (4,877 metres) in just 30 seconds before the aircraft was brought under control and eventually landed safely.

Aviation instructor Alberto Paduanelli, owner of ALPA Simulation in Sherfield on Loddon, southern England, told Reuters that such a rapid descent would have felt like a “very, very vertical roller coaster” for passengers.

‘Your Body Will Literally Lift From The Seat’

Paduanelli said the sudden drop would expose passengers to significant negative G-forces, particularly those who were not wearing seat belts.

“The difference is that on the roller coaster, you know what’s happening,” he said, explaining that during a sudden aircraft descent, passengers experience negative G-force.

For those not strapped in, “your body will literally lift from the seat,” he said.

Using a flight simulator to recreate the incident, Paduanelli said the aircraft’s autopilot appeared to have disconnected before the plunge, allowing the Boeing 737 MAX 8 to accelerate rapidly.

While commercial aircraft are designed to withstand substantial aerodynamic loads, a prolonged high-speed descent can place significant stress on the airframe, he said.

Co-Pilot Allegedly Attacked Captain With Crash Axe

Chaos reportedly erupted after the co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hammam al-Hammami, allegedly attacked Captain Machchhar with an emergency crash axe.

Several passengers reportedly intervened and helped restrain the co-pilot while the captain fought to regain control of the aircraft.

The United Arab Emirates, where al-Hammami is being held for questioning, described the incident as a “terrorist attack.”

Paduanelli said the fact that the aircraft was successfully brought under control and landed safely was extraordinary, given the circumstances.

Captain Machchhar Recalls Terrifying Moments

Captain Machchhar later recalled the mid-air crisis during a conversation with Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Friday.

Despite suffering serious injuries and collapsing during the struggle, Machchhar said his flying experience told him that the aircraft was entering a dangerous descent.

He recalled making “one last push” to reach and open the cockpit door even as he continued to come under attack.

Machchhar said he could still feel the aircraft descending even after he collapsed from his injuries.

Co-Pilot’s Past Under Investigation

Authorities are also examining al-Hammami’s background following reports that he had previously been dismissed from a job over alleged extremist views.

His deleted social media accounts have also reportedly come under scrutiny over posts and views concerning marriage and women working in mixed-gender environments.

The 29-year-old pilot was reportedly born to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. Investigators are now examining his background, including his reported stay in Syria during the country’s civil war, to determine whether it may have played a role in his alleged radicalisation.