Oman Banned Co-Pilot From Flying Due to Islamic Radicalization

An Omani co-pilot who attempted to crash a Flydubai flight had previously been banned from flying by Oman due to undergoing Islamic radicalization, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal citing sources familiar with the matter. Despite this ban, Flydubai reportedly hired him, allowing him to fly to Israel on a route considered sensitive, before he attempted to crash the plane with over 170 passengers and crew aboard.

The investigation into the co-pilot is being conducted in the United Arab Emirates, with security agencies reporting directly to President Mohammed 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, though the UAE may downplay Israeli involvement.

It remains unclear if Oman shared its concerns about the co-pilot's radicalization with other countries or airlines, and the nature of his radicalization was not disclosed to the American newspaper. A UAE spokesperson declined to comment on the attacker's history in Oman to avoid prejudicing the investigation.

The Indian captain, Smith Machachchar, heroically fought the co-pilot, reportedly opening the cockpit door and allowing Israeli passengers and crew to subdue him and regain control of the aircraft. Other pilots on board then safely landed the plane in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli security officials reportedly believe the co-pilot acted alone, contradicting statements by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who hinted at external involvement after U.S. President Donald Trump suggested Iran might be linked to the incident. While all avenues are being investigated, security sources currently see no indication of external direction, estimating he acted independently.

Questions are also being raised in Israel about how the co-pilot was cleared to fly, especially given Oman's prior ban. Airlines are required to submit passenger and crew data to Israel's National Passenger Data Analysis Center, which is accessible to various government agencies. The possibility of the co-pilot holding dual citizenship was explored but found to be incorrect. The focus is now on how this information was missed by control mechanisms prior to the flight.

Following the reports, several Knesset members have called for an urgent discussion with the head of the Shin Bet regarding early warnings about security issues on flights from the UAE, demanding a review of aviation security and pre-incident procedures.

In related news, the first flight to repatriate Israelis from Dubai has landed in Israel. Earlier, the UAE had imposed difficulties regarding passenger flights to Israel, requiring a cargo plane to accompany each passenger flight to carry luggage, a problem that has since been resolved. Flydubai has extended its suspension of flights to Israel until October 15, while Etihad Airways announced it would operate two additional flights from Abu Dhabi to Tel Aviv to assist with passenger repatriation.