Flydubai Plane's Near-Catastrophe Highlighted by Pilot's Analysis

A flydubai plane bound for Tel Aviv came within approximately 40 seconds of crashing during an attempted hijacking, according to a veteran Israeli fighter pilot's analysis of the flight data. The aircraft experienced a rapid descent of over 13,000 feet in that critical 40-second window.

Alon Pereg, a former Israeli Air Force pilot with 28 years of experience, stated that another 40 seconds of such a plunge would have resulted in a crash. "It was a very close call – a hair-raising incident from every perspective," Pereg told Israel's Channel 12.

Pereg suggested that the dramatic dive, while terrifying, may have inadvertently contributed to thwarting the hijacking. He theorized that the steep descent could have disoriented the alleged attacker, who was identified as an Omani national and the plane's co-pilot, giving the injured captain an opportunity to regain control. "That might have been the stroke of luck – the attacking pilot [could’ve] lost his advantage or was forced to hold onto something, giving the other pilot a chance to act," he explained.

The incident unfolded when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the lead pilot, Smit Machchhar. Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit doors, allowing other passengers and off-duty pilots to intervene and subdue the attacker. These individuals then assisted in landing the aircraft safely.

Pereg also speculated that the struggle may have disengaged the Boeing 737-8 Max's autopilot. "The autopilot is supposed to keep flying the plane," he noted. "But in an aircraft like this, moving the control column beyond a slight shift can cause it to disengage. My theory is that this is what happened."

The flight had been at an altitude of approximately 34,000 feet when two distress calls were transmitted about two-and-a-half hours into the journey. The initial call indicated a general emergency (squawk 7700), followed by a second call suggesting a potential hijacking (squawk 7500).

The aircraft diverted its course and circled near the Jordan border before landing at Tabuk airport in Saudi Arabia. Passengers described intense fear during the incident, with one recalling the plane's sudden drop and the accompanying screams and crying. "We just felt the plane drop completely and start spinning a little, and everyone was screaming, there were children crying," passenger Mika Bauman told CNN. "I was just sure I was going to die."

Another passenger, Hila Gaier, recounted telling her daughters goodbye and expressing love amidst the chaos. She also noted that the plane's power had seemingly gone out, and oxygen masks did not deploy.

Following the incident, some passengers have returned to Israel, with agents from the Shin Bet security agency assisting in repatriation efforts. Investigations into the event are ongoing, with officials in the United Arab Emirates initiating a probe to determine if the hijacking was premeditated or had ties to terrorism, given the plane's registration in the UAE.