23,000 Feet Per Minute: Inside FlyDubai's Terrifying Dive

A terrifying dive, reports of a fight inside the cockpit, and an emergency diversion. What happened aboard this Flydubai Boeing 737 MAX 8—and what does the flight data reveal? As a current Boeing 737 captain, I break down the ADS-B data and reconstruct the flight path in Microsoft Flight Simulator. We examine the reported peak descent rate of more than 23,000 feet per minute, the estimated airspeed during the dive, and why recovering from an extreme nose-down attitude requires precise control. I also examine the emergency transponder codes and the diversion to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, including questions about why the aircraft turned away from closer airports. This analysis is based on information available at the time of recording. Reports of a cockpit altercation and stabbing remain subject to investigation. Airspeed and G-load figures are estimates derived from flight data, not flight recorder measurements. Subscribe and turn on notifications for more aviation analysis from a working airline captain. ▶ Watch my previous video on intentional pilot acts: https://youtu.be/dyGx48bb2C0 #Aviation #737MAX #Flydubai