Flydubai Co-Pilot Barred in Oman, Identified as Security Risk Before Hijack Attempt
Flydubai co-pilot barred in Oman over extremist views and flagged as security risk before attempting to crash jet in Israel.
4 min read
A Flydubai co-pilot accused of attempting to crash a passenger jet carrying over 170 people, nearly all Israeli nationals, had previously been barred from flying by Oman over concerns about his extremist views and identified as a security risk, according to reports. The incident has sparked new questions about how a pilot who had already been deemed a threat was later allowed to serve as a first officer on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Co-Pilot Barred by Oman Over Extremist Views
According to reports, the Omani national had been barred from flying by Oman due to concerns that he had adopted radical ideological views. Despite this ban, he was later hired by Flydubai and allowed to serve as first officer on a sensitive route connecting the United Arab Emirates and Israel. The co-pilot is now in UAE custody and has indicated to investigators that his intent was to crash the aircraft in Israel.
ABC News reported that the co-pilot had been identified as a security risk while working as a trainee for Oman Air in 2024 after extremist materials were discovered in his possession, according to senior intelligence and law enforcement officials. He was subsequently removed from flying but allowed to continue working for Oman Air in an administrative role. Investigators are now trying to determine how he was later permitted to fly for Flydubai and ultimately became first officer aboard the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Extremist Materials and Security Risk Flags
The co-pilot’s history of extremist materials and flagged security risk status was further detailed by Al Arabiya English, which reported that he spent most of his time outside Oman, particularly in Syria. Citing sources, the outlet said he had been influenced by extremist ideas during a previous stay in Syria before traveling to the UAE. He left Oman after authorities barred him from flying over concerns about his extremist views.
It remains unclear whether Oman shared its concerns about the co-pilot with other countries or airlines, according to the Wall Street Journal. The precise nature of his reported radicalization could not be determined. A UAE spokesperson declined to address the co-pilot’s reported history in Oman, saying that doing so could “prejudge the outcome of the investigation or interfere with its course.” Flydubai and the Omani government did not respond to the Journal’s requests for comment.
Attack and Aircraft Crash
The incident followed a near-catastrophe aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 on Wednesday, when the co-pilot attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar as the Boeing 737 traveled from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The aircraft plunged more than 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds, according to Flightradar24 data, before the badly wounded Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. Israeli passengers rushed forward and subdued the attacker, while off-duty pilots aboard the flight took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai has since suspended flights between Dubai and Tel Aviv until further notice, saying that a full official investigation was underway with the airline’s support. The co-pilot was transferred to the UAE from Saudi Arabia on Thursday and is cooperating with authorities.
Israeli Prime Minister Comments and Investigation
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu asserted that the attacker had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” while Israeli investigators continue examining whether he acted alone or on behalf of another party. Netanyahu said, “As time passes, the picture becomes clearer. The attacker underwent Islamist radicalization. He came to crash the plane along with its passengers. We are clarifying right now if he was sent. And whoever sent him will pay a heavy price.”
The UAE investigation is examining whether Wednesday’s attack was connected to terrorist activity or purpose, or involved prior planning or direction. Anwar Gargash, a senior diplomatic adviser to UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed, became the first senior Emirati official to publicly characterize the incident as terrorism, describing it as a “dangerous terrorist act.”
International Concerns and Security Gaps
The incident has raised significant concerns about international aviation security and the sharing of information between countries and airlines. The co-pilot’s history of being flagged as a security risk by Oman and his subsequent employment by Flydubai highlights potential gaps in background checks and information sharing between aviation authorities.
Netanyahu said Thursday that investigators had not yet established whether Iran or another outside actor was involved. “We’ll get to the root of this attacker, whether he had accomplices, whether Iran was behind him,” he said. “I think we’ll find out very soon. It is too early to say.”
Background and Context
The co-pilot’s actions have led to renewed scrutiny of aviation security protocols and the effectiveness of international cooperation in preventing such incidents. The case underscores the importance of thorough background checks and the need for greater transparency and information sharing between countries and airlines to prevent similar incidents in the future.
As the investigation continues, the focus remains on understanding the full extent of the co-pilot’s radicalization and any potential connections to external actors. The incident has also prompted discussions about the role of extremist ideologies in global terrorism and the challenges faced by aviation authorities in ensuring the safety of passengers and crew.
Source: Breitbart
