Senior intelligence and law enforcement officials revealed Thursday that the Omani national who allegedly stabbed a FlyDubai captain and attempted to crash the aircraft was previously identified as a security risk. The suspect, while enrolled as a co-pilot trainee with Oman Air in 2024, was found in possession of extremist materials.
According to sources speaking to ABC News, the trainee was grounded from flight duties for one year but was permitted to remain employed by the carrier in an administrative capacity. Investigators are now working to determine how he subsequently obtained flying privileges with FlyDubai and ended up in the first officer seat of the flight bound for Israel.
The suspect was transferred from Saudi Arabia to the United Arab Emirates on Thursday. Sources stated that he is currently cooperating with investigators and has admitted his objective was to crash the plane in Israel. The potential disaster was prevented after Captain Smit Machchhar fought back and passengers restrained the attacker, who had forced the Boeing 737 MAX 8 into a steep dive. The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as an act of “Islamist radicalization” during a Friday address. He confirmed that the attacker intended to kill everyone on board and vowed that those responsible for sending him would face severe consequences. Netanyahu also publicly commended the passengers, including passenger-pilot Yaniv Hayoun and physician Shota Musaev, for their role in averting a tragedy comparable to the September 11 attacks.
The passengers deserve huge credit. Without their quick actions, this could have been a tragedy on the scale of 9/11.
It’s shocking he was cleared to fly again after being grounded for extremist material. The vetting process seems seriously flawed.