New Details Emerge in Failed Terror Attack Aboard flydubai Flight
An investigation by Corriere della Sera reveals new details about an Omani co-pilot's attempted terror attack on a flydubai flight, including a steep plunge and possible engine shutdown over Saudi Arabia.
A dramatic investigation published by the Italian newspaper Corriere della Sera reveals new details regarding an attempted terror attack aboard a flydubai flight. According to the report, an Omani co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft in the Saudi desert after his initial plan was foiled.
The Plunge and Engine Shutdown
The investigation details how the co-pilot disconnected the autopilot, took manual control, and pushed the controls forward, causing the aircraft to lose 16,000 feet in under a minute. Aviation experts consulted by the newspaper suggest that the co-pilot may have also shut off the fuel supply to the engines, effectively turning them off.
"Emergency cabin lights suddenly activated at high altitude, a phenomenon that typically occurs only when the Boeing 737 loses its primary power source and switches to battery backup due to engine or generator shutdown," noted one of the consulted captains.
Emergency Codes and Air Traffic Control
Investigators are examining whether the switches regulating fuel flow were deliberately moved from 'Run' to 'Cutoff'. The report also highlights that the 7700 emergency code for general distress was broadcast by a pilot summoned to the cockpit, before changing seven minutes later to 7500, indicating a hijacking suspicion as the aircraft approached Jordanian airspace.
