Source : INDIA TODAY NEWS
A Flydubai jet bound for Tel Aviv plunged 14,125 feet in 29 seconds on Wednesday, then turned back toward Saudi Arabia instead of entering Israeli airspace.
India Today’s OSINT team analysed the flight-tracking data and recreated the descent in 3D, showing how the aircraft’s path bent sharply as the drama unfolded at over 30,000 feet.
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According to India Today’s analysis of Flightradar24 data, Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 MAX 8 from Dubai, was above Tubarjal town in Saudi Arabia when it began to dip. It fell from 30,875 feet to 16,750 feet between 05:22:07 and 05:22:36 UTC, and it took a while to stabilise.
It then diverted over Jordanian airspace and headed back to Saudi Arabia, landing at Tabuk Airport in the country’s northwest.
Along the way, the aircraft transmitted 7700, the general emergency code, then 7500, a code associated with unlawful interference, before returning to 7700.
The episode has taken on a political dimension. Israeli media identified the co-pilot involved as Omani and the other pilot as Emirati. Flydubai has not confirmed either nationality.
Some media reports go further, alleging that the Omani co-pilot “deliberately tried to crash the aircraft”. Those claims have not been independently established.
Reuters, citing an Israeli official, reported that the pilots had a “physical altercation.”
The plane landed safely. “The aircraft has landed safely at Tabuk Airport (TUU) in Saudi Arabia, and all passengers are safe and accounted for,” Flydubai said.
What happened inside the cockpit remains under investigation.
– Ends
SOURCE :- TIMES OF INDIA
