United Pilot Who Called Oct 7 Terrorists ‘Brave’ Still Flying
A United Airlines pilot who praised Hamas’ 2023 attacks is still flying, raising safety concerns.
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A United Airlines captain who praised Hamas’ October 7, 2023, attacks as the work of “a brave people” is still flying passengers nearly three years later, according to recent reports. The airline has not publicly explained why the pilot, Capt. Ibrahim R. Mossallam, was reinstated after being placed on leave in 2023.
Reinstatement and Controversy
Channel 14 reported that Mossallam was quietly returned to the cockpit after being pulled from flying in 2023. The outlet noted that United Airlines did not respond to questions about why Mossallam was allowed to continue flying. The Daily Wire also reached out to United for comment, but the airline has not provided details on its review process.
On October 7, 2023, Mossallam described Hamas’ actions as “resistance” by people who had endured “occupation, oppression, humiliation, apartheid, and straight up murder.” He claimed the attacks were “not an unprovoked attack” and blamed the “Zionist regime.” His posts sparked significant backlash, leading to pressure from Jewish organizations and communities, which led United to place him on six months of sick leave while it reviewed the case.
Recent Security Concerns
The renewed scrutiny follows the September 30 attempted terrorist hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, in which the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and tried to crash the plane with 174 people on board. Israeli passengers and crew managed to subdue the co-pilot, and off-duty pilots landed the jet safely in Saudi Arabia.
Before the hijacking, the co-pilot had posted antisemitic content on social media, raising concerns about pilot screening. The Flydubai incident has intensified questions about how airlines screen pilots for potential threats, especially in light of Mossallam’s reinstatement.
United’s Response and Public Reaction
United has never publicly explained the outcome of its review or why it cleared Mossallam. Mossallam’s post gained attention after StopAntisemitism shared it, prompting public backlash. Users flooded United’s social media pages, and former White House envoy Jason Greenblatt urged the airline to fire Mossallam.
United confirmed it had removed Mossallam from service in November 2023, but the timeline of his return to flying remains unclear. Some reports suggest he returned after about a month, while others claim it took six months. Air Canada, in contrast, fired a pilot for similar antisemitic posts, highlighting the inconsistency in how airlines handle such cases.
Source: Daily Wire
