The Flydubai co-pilot suspected of stabbing the captain of an Israel-bound flight on Wednesday was banned from flying by Oman over concerns about his radical views, U.S. media reported on Friday, citing people familiar with the matter.
The Wall Street Journal reported that Omani authorities had banned the first officer due to worries over his radical ideological views. It remains unclear if those concerns were passed on to Flydubai.
The United Arab Emirates, which is leading the investigation, declined to comment on the pilot’s history in Oman, citing the continuing probe, according to multiple news reports.
A Flydubai spokesperson told AnewZ said it was unable to comment further while circumstances surrounding the incident were still under investigation.
“We remain fully committed to supporting the ongoing investigation and are in close coordination with the relevant government authorities and regulators,” the spokesperson added.
AnewZ has contacted the government of Oman for comment.
Separately, Fox News reported that Oman’s national carrier, Oman Air, grounded the pilot in 2024 after the airline discovered he had been visiting radial Islamic websites.
ABC News, citing senior intelligence and law enforcement officials, reported he was identified as a security risk while a co-pilot trainee at Oman Air in 2024.
AnewZ has contacted Oman Air for comment on the reports in U.S. media
The Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed Indian captain Smit Machchhar two hours into the Flydubai flight between Dubai and Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
During the alleged attack, the plane plunged almost 5,200 metres, before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker.
The flight diverted to Tabuk, in northwestern Saudi Arabia, and landed safely. Nearly all of the around 180 people aboard were Israeli.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on Thursday that the attacker had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” adding that it appeared he intended to crash the plane.
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