Stories
Flydubai Attack: Pilot Cuts Fuel to Both Engines Mid-Flight, Causing 16,000-Foot Plunge
- •Investigators are examining whether the Omani co-pilot in the Flydubai FZ1073 incident moved the aircraft’s two engine fuel-control switches to ‘CUTOFF’ after his attempt to seize control.
- •If confirmed, this would explain the sudden 16,000-foot altitude loss in 30 seconds before passengers and other pilots regained control.
- •Cutting fuel to both engines mid-flight means the aircraft loses thrust but can still glide, trading altitude for forward speed; losing both engines is a far more serious situation than losing one.
- •During the incident, co-pilot Hammam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe, leading to an attempted terrorist act.
- •The aircraft, carrying over 170 people, descended from 34,000 feet to 16,600 feet in seconds, transmitting emergency codes 7700 and 7500, but was eventually landed safely in Tabuk by off-duty pilots.
Key Questions Answered
Selecting cutoff stops fuel from being supplied to the engine, meaning the aircraft is no longer propelled forward by its engines and becomes a heavy glider that begins losing altitude unless restarted. However, an aircraft at cruising altitude has substantial forward momentum and can continue flying temporarily as long as it maintains airspeed and lift.
Investigators are examining whether the Omani co-pilot, Hammam al-Hammami, moved the Boeing 737 MAX 8's two engine fuel-control switches from "RUN" to "CUTOFF" following an alleged attack on Captain Smit Machchhar with a crash axe. This alleged deliberate fuel cutoff could explain a sudden plunge of about 16,000 feet in roughly 30 seconds before control was regained.
Despite the captain suffering serious injuries, he managed to activate the mechanism allowing the cockpit door to open, enabling passengers to intervene and help stabilise the aircraft. Two off-duty pilots travelling on board subsequently took control and landed the plane safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia.
