Omani Co-Pilot’s Alleged Attempt to Crash Flydubai Flight
The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to crash a Flydubai passenger jet with over 170 people onboard, mostly Israeli nationals, was previously prohibited from flying due to concerns regarding his extremist views and was considered a security risk. Reports indicate he expressed intentions to crash the aircraft while in Israel.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Oman had previously grounded the co-pilot based on his radical ideological inclinations. Nevertheless, he was later employed by Flydubai, serving as a first officer on flights between the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
According to further details from ABC News, during his training at Oman Air in 2024, the co-pilot had been flagged as a security risk after extremist materials were found in his possession. Despite his removal from flight operations, he continued working in an administrative capacity. Investigators are now looking into how he was eventually allowed to pilot a Flydubai flight to Tel Aviv.
Currently in custody in the UAE, the suspect is cooperating and has reportedly indicated that he aimed to crash the plane in Israel. He was transferred to UAE authorities from Saudi Arabia on Thursday.
This situation raises serious questions about how a pilot identified as a security risk was permitted to enter the cockpit of a passenger jet traveling to Israel.
Additionally, Al Arabiya English reported that the co-pilot spent significant time outside Oman, particularly in Syria, where he was believed to have been influenced by extremist ideas. After being barred from flying in Oman, he left the country for the UAE.
It’s still uncertain if Oman shared its concerns regarding the co-pilot with other nations or airlines, and the specifics of his radicalization remain ambiguous.
A spokesperson from the UAE opted not to comment on the co-pilot’s background in Oman, citing concerns over prematurely influencing the investigation’s outcome. Both Flydubai and the Omani government have not responded to requests for comments.
The reports follow comments from Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who claimed that the assailant had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination.” Israeli investigators are still determining whether he acted independently or was part of a larger network.
Netanyahu emphasized that as time goes on, more information will emerge, stating, “The attacker underwent Islamist radicalization. He came to crash the plane along with its passengers.” He also indicated that they are probing whether the attacker had any accomplices and warned that those behind him would face consequences.
The ongoing UAE investigation aims to establish if the incident was linked to terrorism or if it involved prior planning. Anwar Gargash, a senior advisor to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, characterized the event as a “dangerous terrorist act.”
This investigation comes after a critical incident aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, where the co-pilot attacked the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar. The aircraft descended rapidly by over 16,000 feet within approximately 30 seconds until Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Passengers and off-duty pilots on board managed to subdue the attacker and safely land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
In light of the events, Flydubai has suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv until further notice and announced that a full investigation is currently underway.
Netanyahu has stated that they have not yet established whether Iran or any other external entity played a role in the incident, noting, “I think we’ll find out very soon. It is too early to say.”
