One pic I saw while on decent, showed the cowling, before it tore off, hanging over the wing near the root. That’s gotta mess with the handling, and indeed, the article stated that the plane went into a 41 degree roll straight away.
This wasn’t a flame out, or compressor stall, situation. Flight dynamics were compromised.
Not that big a deal.
Anytime there is something structurally wrong with the jet, from icing on the wing to a bird strike, to a loss of an engine, you are flying a “test aircraft.”
The pilot flies the jet. Those flight control inputs are assisted by the flight computer, so it is not like the pilot is wrestling a jet with direct stick-and-rudder cable inputs requiring super-human strength.
Exciting, yes, but hardly heroic in this case.
(I’ve had my share of IFE’s and such and you fly the jet, take care of business, and land when able. Drink beer at the club later.)
Yeah, the condition of the aircraft was akin to losing half the wing. Waiting for the investigation to explain why they didn’t lose flaps/control surfaces/ tailplane etc...with that big piece of cowling hanging out it must have been on the razor’s edge of losing control...jury’s still out but my vote is on saved by Navy skillz...