Thought this was bogus reporting, but friends in Portugal confirmed it.
Post-maintenance check flight (C-check).

Highlights:

Jet would roll left uncommanded.

Probably did at least three barrel rolls.

May have been 90 nose down at one point.

Terrible weather; appears gyros were tumbled.

F-16 intercepted and either led them or talked them through the weather.

Could only use rudder and differential throttle for roll.

Landed safely; jet not likely to fly again due to over-g.

Awesome job in an impossible situation!

Air Astana flight #KC1388 reported severe flight control issues, declared ?Mayday? ?. ? News In Flight

Yes crazy, apparently a ferry flight out of MX with four technicians on board as well, the WX was IMC with them reporting being in a thunderstorm at one time. Two on board required medical.

The Embraer has conventional control cables to the ailerons, the tail is FBW.

Some chatter about the ailerons being reversed in direct mode?

More Details:

https://www.flightglobal.com/news/ar...regain-453628/

You can find a youtube of the ATC recordings. Harrowing.

wow this is insane! poor crew.

http://avherald.com/h?article=4c04438e&opt=0





Roll spoilers and ailerons.

Dang. On the brighter side, there will be job openings for an AMT or two with EU right to work.

Note to self: don't fly Air Astana.

Hmm, how did that pre-takeoff control check go...

It's incredible that in this day and age we can still find ways to hook controls up backwards, in a new airplane! They're probably one of few if anyone that experienced it during IMC and lived to tell about it. The FBW spoilers were working (and displaying) correctly, probably what saved them.

Not a miracle, it's the work of the crew that didn't give up.