Flydubai Flight Records Unusual Descent Rate Before Landing Safely in Saudi Arabia
A Flydubai flight from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport recorded a rare tracking descent rate of 15,000 feet per minute before safely diverting and landing in Saudi Arabia.
A striking detail from the unusual incident aboard a Flydubai flight from Dubai to Ben Gurion Airport is the aircraft's alarming rate of descent. According to tracking data recorded during the flight, the plane experienced a descent rate of approximately 15,000 feet per minute at one point—an extraordinary figure, if it accurately reflects the actual descent.
Comparing Normal Descent Rates
To understand the significance of this number, it must be compared to standard commercial aircraft descent rates. During a normal descent approach for landing, the descent rate typically ranges between 500 and 800 feet per minute, depending on the aircraft type, flight phase, and atmospheric conditions.
Even a rate of 1,000 to 1,500 feet per minute can occur during commercial flights, particularly in specific descent phases. When dealing with rates of 2,000 to 3,000 feet per minute or more, it constitutes a significantly steeper decline, especially when the aircraft is in advanced stages of landing approach.
Extraordinary Tracking Figures
However, the figure recorded in this case is on an entirely different scale. Fifteen thousand feet per minute is several times higher than a passenger plane's standard descent rate. If this data is precise and not a momentary tracking error or glitch, it implies the aircraft lost altitude at an exceptional speed within a very brief timeframe.
Translating this into more digestible terms illustrates the magnitude of the number: 15,000 feet equals roughly 4.6 kilometers. At such a rate, this represents losing several kilometers of altitude in an extremely short period, far beyond any planned commercial descent profile.
"Public tracking data is no substitute for official flight data. Sometimes they display momentary or discontinuous figures, or information affected by reception anomalies."
Official Investigation Needed
Nevertheless, a crucial caveat must be noted: public flight tracking data does not replace official flight recorders. At this stage, it is impossible to determine solely from tracking data whether the aircraft genuinely descended at 15,000 feet per minute for a sustained duration.
The final verified picture will only emerge through official aircraft data and investigations by relevant authorities. These bodies will examine altitude, airspeed, exact descent rates, and cockpit actions during the event. The flight eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia after altering its original route to Israel.
