Brief
Omani authorities barred Flydubai co‑pilot over extremist views, report says
A source says Oman barred the co‑pilot for extremist views before he was hired by Flydubai, sparking scrutiny of airline hiring practices.
By Felo News Desk · Published
Tel Aviv – A person familiar with the matter told deccanchronicle.com that Oman barred the Flydubai co‑pilot who was involved in the near‑crash of a Tel Aviv‑bound flight carrying 182 people because of concerns he had adopted extremist views. The same source said the co‑pilot was later hired by the UAE‑based airline, though it was unclear how thoroughly he was vetted at the time of recruitment.
The Omani ban was first reported by the Wall Street Journal, according to the source, and the incident has intensified scrutiny of aviation security in a region already strained by the U.S.–Iran war. The attack forced Flydubai flight FZ1073 to divert to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where all passengers and crew survived. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the co‑pilot had undergone “Islamist radicalisation,” while UAE senior diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash called the episode a “dangerous terrorist act” and praised the captain for averting disaster.
Following the incident, the United Arab Emirates cancelled all flights to Israel, complicating travel for hundreds of passengers. Repatriation flights began on Friday, with the first leaving the UAE shortly before 23:00 and landing in Tel Aviv after 01:00, according to the Ben Gurion International Airport website. Carriers Arkia and Israir were listed for arrivals from Dubai, and El Al was expected to operate a flight on Sunday.
U.S. President Donald Trump said early information suggested links to Tehran but offered no details, adding that any Iranian involvement would be met with a strong response. Israeli investigators are leading the probe, though an Emirati official said the Emirates are heading the investigation. No evidence has yet linked the attacker to a specific group or to Iran.
Earlier Felo News coverage documented the pilot’s heroism and the subsequent diplomatic response, including the award of the Vishisht Gujarat Garima Award to captain Smit Machchhar (flydubai-pilot-hero-diversion).
Key facts
- Oman barred the Flydubai co‑pilot over extremist‑view concerns (deccanchronicle.com)
- The co‑pilot was later hired by Flydubai, with unclear vetting (deccanchronicle.com)
- Flydubai flight FZ1073 was diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, with all 182 aboard surviving (deccanchronicle.com)
- UAE cancelled all flights to Israel after the incident (deccanchronicle.com)
- Repatriation flights from the UAE to Israel began on Friday night (deccanchronicle.com)
Sources
- [1] deccanchronicle.com — originally reported as “Flydubai Co-Pilot Previously Barred from Flying Over Extremist Views”
