By Oxford Reporters
The pilot suspected of attacking another pilot aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv was previously removed from a training programme at Oman’s national airline following concerns over his alleged extremist views, CNN has reported, citing multiple sources familiar with the matter.
According to CNN, a regional diplomatic source said the suspect was removed from training because of concerns that he held radical views, although he was subsequently assigned another role within the airline.
The suspect is an Omani citizen who was born in the United Arab Emirates to an Omani father and a Syrian mother. Sources said he spent several years of his life in the UAE, while an Israeli official also confirmed his identity.
The suspect was transferred from Saudi Arabia, where the aircraft made an emergency landing, to the United Arab Emirates, where he is facing a terrorism investigation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier said the suspect was believed to have undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination.”
An Israeli official told CNN that the suspect had worked for Flydubai for only about eight months, while another source said he had previously worked for Royal Air Maroc.
The revelations are expected to raise questions about background checks and security screening procedures in the aviation industry, particularly in cases involving personnel who may have previously attracted security concerns.
The incident occurred aboard a Flydubai aircraft travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Israel, where the suspect allegedly attacked the pilot inside the cockpit.
The pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, reportedly managed to regain control of the aircraft after the attack, preventing what could have resulted in a serious aviation disaster.
The aircraft subsequently made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia, where the suspect was taken into custody before being transferred to the UAE.
CNN reported that it contacted Oman Air, Royal Air Maroc and the Dubai government’s media office for comment. Flydubai, however, said it could not comment while the incident remained under investigation.
The new details have also raised questions about how an Omani citizen, from a country that does not recognise Israel, was permitted to serve as a pilot on a flight to Tel Aviv despite Israel’s stringent aviation security measures.
An Israeli official said several agencies, including the Shin Bet, Mossad, the military and the Transportation Ministry, were investigating how the Omani pilot became part of the flight crew.
The investigation is expected to examine the suspect’s employment history, recruitment and security screening, as well as the circumstances surrounding the alleged attack.
The allegations against the suspect remain subject to investigation, and authorities have yet to publicly establish all the circumstances surrounding the incident.
