June 28th 2024.
A harrowing event took place aboard a Ryanair flight when it suddenly dropped 2,000ft in just 17 seconds. This alarming incident occurred on December 4th, as the Boeing 737 Max airliner was making its final descent into London Stansted Airport. The plane was flying at a low altitude and was only moments away from landing when it began plummeting at an alarming rate.
Thankfully, the pilots were able to regain control and safely land the plane on the second attempt. However, the severity of the situation was not overlooked, as the air accident watchdog declared it a "serious incident" and launched an investigation into the matter.
According to the Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB), the plane experienced a "high speed and high nose down pitch attitude" during the go-around, which is when the pilots abort the landing and circle around the airport to try again. Data from the flight showed that the plane descended steadily until it abruptly dropped from 4,425ft to 2,300ft in just 17 seconds.
The investigation is still ongoing, but it has been reported that the flight also experienced a "level bust," which occurs when an aircraft deviates from the instructed altitude by at least 300ft. It is not yet known what caused the sudden drop, but the plane involved did not fly again for two days after the incident.
In response to the event, Ryanair stated that it was a case of "an unstable approach" and that the pilots followed proper procedures by performing a go-around and landing safely on the second attempt. The airline has fully cooperated with the investigation and is awaiting the AAIB's findings.
This incident adds to the growing concerns surrounding Boeing and its aircrafts. In January of this year, a door panel ripped off a 737 Max during a flight, and just last month, another 737 Max dropped dangerously close to the ocean. In addition, a TUI-operated 737-800 nearly ran off the runway due to a "software glitch."
The most notable incidents involving Boeing were the two fatal crashes in 2018 and 2019, which claimed the lives of 346 people. The aircraft manufacturer is still facing potential legal action for these tragedies and their alleged breaches of a legal settlement.
At a recent Senate hearing, outgoing Boeing CEO David Calhoun personally apologized to the families of the victims. A whistleblower also came forward, claiming that Boeing often allowed planes to leave the factory with "serious defects."
Despite these concerns, Ryanair continues to operate its Boeing 737 Max aircrafts, but it remains to be seen if the investigation will lead to any changes in their usage. As for the passengers on the flight in question, they were luckily unharmed and able to safely continue on with their journey.
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