Omani Pilot Barred From Flying Due to Extreme Views Before Dubai Flight

An Omani co-pilot for Flydubai, who attempted to crash a plane en route to Israel, had previously been prohibited from flying in his home country due to concerns over "extreme views," according to a Wall Street Journal report. Despite this ban, Flydubai employed him on the sensitive route to Israel. The co-pilot's identity has not been officially released, though details of the incident have emerged. Authorities in the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel are investigating, and the motive remains undetermined. The investigation against the co-pilot is being conducted in the UAE by the State Security Directorate (SSD), which reports directly to President Mohamed bin Zayed. Israel hopes that the co-pilot's transfer from Saudi Arabia to the UAE will facilitate cooperation in the ongoing investigation, with Jerusalem expecting regular updates from Abu Dhabi, regardless of Israel's direct role. The UAE reportedly intends to downplay Israeli involvement, despite close bilateral ties. It is unclear whether Oman shared its concerns about the pilot's radicalization with other nations or airlines, and the nature of his extremism is unknown. A UAE spokesperson declined to comment on the pilot's history in Oman to avoid prejudicing the investigation.