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Flydubai Co-Pilot Banned in Oman for 'Extremist Ideology': Report
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News18•03-10-2026, 09:28
Flydubai Co-Pilot Banned in Oman for 'Extremist Ideology': Report
- •The Flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking his captain on a Dubai-Tel Aviv flight was previously banned from flying in Oman due to 'extremist ideological views'.
- •The Wall Street Journal reported that the Omani national was later hired by Flydubai and was serving as a first officer at the time of the September 30 attack.
- •ABC News separately reported that the co-pilot had been temporarily removed from flying with Oman Air due to being identified as a 'security risk'.
- •Investigators are examining the co-pilot's past, the circumstances of the cockpit attack, and whether he acted alone or had external contacts.
- •The flight was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after the attack, with passengers and crew intervening to avert a potential catastrophe.
Key Questions Answered
The Omani national was previously banned from flying due to concerns over his extremist and radical ideological views.
The attack occurred on September 30 when the co-pilot allegedly attacked his captain with a knife on a Dubai-Tel Aviv route flight.
After passengers and crew intervened to help manage the situation, the plane carrying over 170 passengers and crew was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
