Flydubai Flight Drops 17,400ft Amid Pilot Struggle

With more than 160 passengers aboard, the aircraft descended 17,000 feet in two minutes before making an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the copilot allegedly attempted to stab the captain.

The aircraft underwent a dramatic descent of over 17,000 feet in just two minutes, after initial reports indicated that the copilot allegedly attempted to stab the captain, prompting passengers to intervene and help subdue the assailant.

A passenger's mother recounted the harrowing experience, stating that the plane began losing control during the struggle between the flight crew.

Amid the chaos, passengers, along with other pilots on board, intervened to help regain control of the cockpit, where the assailant reportedly used a knife during the altercation.

Both the pilot and copilot were hospitalized with injuries following the incident, prompting Israeli authorities to launch an investigation into a potential terrorist attack.

Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu confirmed that the situation was under control, though the lack of formal diplomatic ties between Israel and Saudi Arabia is complicating the process of retrieving the passengers.

Upon safely landing in Saudi Arabia, the flight crew and passengers were met with applause, reflecting the relief of a dangerous situation averted.

The incident, occurring within the cockpit and involving flight crew members, is raising significant concerns.

CNN transportation analyst Mary Schiavo highlighted that this event calls into question many fundamental security assumptions that have been in place since the attacks of September 11, 2001, especially regarding cockpit crews often bypassing standard security checkpoints at international airports.

Mary Schiavo reported that the altercation began with the copilot allegedly slapping the pilot, noting the crew consisted of a male and female.

Initially, a hijack code was squawked, followed by an emergency code, while two off-duty plainclothes pilots on board assisted in regaining control of the aircraft, which descended several thousand feet in just two minutes.

A mother of a passenger reported that her adult child witnessed a knife being used during the struggle inside the cockpit.

According to the witness, the pilot reportedly disarmed the individual and restrained them on the floor, with a significant amount of blood reported in the vicinity of the struggle.

Mary Schiavo stated that policies allowing flight crews to bypass security checkpoints may need reevaluation following this incident, citing El Al security as the gold standard with more rigorous protocols.

The event raises critical questions about the effectiveness of existing secondary barriers and how a pilot could have brought a knife on board, with analysts warning of potential copycat attempts.

The rapid rate of descent experienced by the aircraft, described as a very steep drop, would have generated significant G-forces.

Mary Schiavo explained that passengers not wearing their seatbelts would have been at risk of being thrown from their seats due to the severe physical disturbance in the cabin during the 17,400-foot drop.