Retired U.S. Navy pilot Matthew 'Whiz' Buckley said Wednesday evening that the hijacked Flydubai Boeing 737-800 exceeded its maximum operating speed by approximately 100 knots (185 km/h) while plunging 20,000 feet in 30 seconds. Buckley described the rapid descent as risking structural flutter and catastrophic failure, and called the safe recovery of the aircraft 'absolutely extraordinary.'
Buckley's analysis, provided to The Zioneer late Wednesday evening, adds a new and more extreme estimate of the dive during the cockpit attack aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073. The aircraft, a Boeing 737-800, experienced a rapid descent after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and passengers intervened.
Earlier Wednesday, The Zioneer reported aviation data showing the aircraft dove 18,400 feet in less than two minutes, reaching over 1,000 km/h. Buckley's account describes a drastically steeper dive of 20,000 feet in just 30 seconds and an overspeed of 100 knots beyond the maximum operating limit. Aviation experts note that such stress risks structural failure.
The hijacking attempt unfolded earlier in the day; the plane landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Israeli authorities, including Mossad and the Shin Bet, have opened an investigation. Saudi and Jordanian fighter jets scrambled alongside the Israeli Air Force during the emergency, as The Zioneer reported at 22:46. Prime Minister Netanyahu spoke with U.S. President Trump about the incident.
Buckley's remarks underscore the extreme physical forces the aircraft endured and the significance of the crew and passengers regaining control.
4 developments
- DevelopingSaudi, Jordanian fighter jets scrambled alongside IAF during Flydubai emergency, Israeli media reports
- Strong8-year-old on Flydubai flight says she thought plane would crash during rapid descent
- DevelopingN12 publishes cockpit footage from Flydubai flight, shows wounded pilot and passengers' arrest fears
- StrongItalian investigation reveals Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with emergency axe, shut down both engines over Saudi desert
Source and signal
- Open-source intake