Omani Co-Pilot Banned Over Radical Views Attempted to Hijack Israel-Bound Flight
The co-pilot, who allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane, had previously been prohibited from flying by Oman due to concerns about his ideological leanings.
The Omani co-pilot accused of attempting to hijack an Israel-bound flydubai flight had previously been banned from flying by Oman due to concerns over radical ideological views, according to a report from The Wall Street Journal. Despite this ban, the pilot was hired by the Dubai-based airline, enabling him to fly the route connecting the United Arab Emirates and Israel.
It remains unclear whether Oman shared these concerns about the pilot's radicalization with other countries or airlines. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the attacker underwent "Islamist radicalization" and intended to crash the plane with all passengers aboard. He added that an investigation is underway to determine if the co-pilot was sent by an external party, warning that whoever was responsible would pay a heavy price.
Flight 1073, en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people on board, experienced a terrifying nosedive of 18,000 feet when the co-pilot allegedly launched the attack. The captain, Smit Machchhar, managed to fend off his attacker, and the situation was brought under control with the assistance of passengers and an off-duty pilot. Israel's defense minister described the incident as a "jihadist terrorist attack." The co-pilot had been employed by flydubai for less than a year.