Flydubai Co-Pilot Posted Anti-Jewish Content Online, Israeli Official Says

An Omani co-pilot on a Flydubai flight who stabbed the captain on Wednesday had previously posted content on social media referencing the murder of Jews, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel on Thursday. According to the official, these posts indicate the co-pilot had become radicalized and embraced jihadist ideology. The official also stated, based on passenger accounts, that the co-pilot asked Emirati crew members to kill him after he was subdued. "He was a person ready to commit suicide," the official said, adding that the co-pilot's social media accounts "talk about killing Jews."

Israeli authorities are exercising caution regarding definitive conclusions at this stage, with the official noting, "We will not be able to state this with certainty until the investigation is completed." However, initial findings suggest the co-pilot was prepared to die and likely intended to cause the plane to crash, the official added.

The suspect has been transferred to the United Arab Emirates, where Israel will participate in the investigation, the official confirmed. Concurrently, Israeli authorities are conducting their own investigations and have already begun modifying certain security procedures in response to the attempted hijacking.