Oman Knew of Pilot's Extremism Before FlyDubai Hijacking Attempt

Oman had knowledge that the co-pilot who attempted to hijack a FlyDubai plane had adopted extremist ideologies and had consequently banned him from flying, according to a Wall Street Journal report. Despite this prohibition, the Omani pilot was hired by FlyDubai, enabling him to fly planes on the sensitive route connecting the United Arab Emirates and Israel. It remains unclear whether Oman shared its concerns about the pilot's extremism with other countries or airlines, or how the situation initially began.

Aviation security experts described the incident as a significant security lapse. They suggested that a flaw in security screening might have allowed a weapon to pass, but authorities should have identified and stopped an attacker with hostile intentions before they reached the airport. Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the picture of the events on the flight is becoming clearer, identifying the attacker as an Omani citizen but leaving further details about his identity undisclosed. He also mentioned that Israel is investigating whether the pilot acted alone or had accomplices.

The aircraft's captain and co-pilot are currently in the UAE, having been flown there from Saudi Arabia, where the plane made an emergency landing. Israel intends to interrogate the attacker, though the specific Israeli body responsible for this has not been announced. Both the UAE and Israel are known for their high airport security standards, with Israeli airlines operating on the Dubai route adhering to stricter protocols than their foreign counterparts.

However, an Israeli official indicated that the country had previously urged Dubai airport officials to enhance security for flights bound for Tel Aviv. Currently, Israeli airlines are not operating flights between Dubai and Israel due to security concerns and the risks associated with the war against Iran. A classified report from Israel's State Comptroller in May 2024 highlighted deficiencies in flight security to and from the country, including inadequate security at foreign airports, as previously reported by the Wall Street Journal. The report found that the Ministry of Transportation had focused on Israeli airlines, allocating insufficient funds and resources to the security of foreign airlines flying to Israel.