Omani Co-Pilot Accused of Hijacking Attempt Mused About Killing Jews Online
An Israeli official indicated the co-pilot of a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv may have been motivated by radical ideology.
The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday had posted disturbing content online, including musings about killing Jews, an Israeli official told the Times of Israel.
The co-pilot, whose name has not been publicly released, is alleged to have attacked the lead pilot in the cockpit on the flight carrying 174 people before attempting to down the aircraft. Authorities are investigating any potential links to terrorist activity.
"This was a person who was willing to commit suicide," the official stated. "His social media accounts [say] clearly that he has been radicalized into jihadist ideology. He talks about killing Jews."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu previously stated that the co-pilot "underwent Islamist radical indoctrination" before stabbing the captain. A colleague of the co-pilot also reportedly described him as a religious extremist who refused to shake women's hands, noting he had been with the airline for less than a year.