Pilot Accused of Attempted Plane Hijacking Had Troubling Past

An investigation is underway into the background of a pilot accused of attempting to crash a commercial flight, with emerging details suggesting potential security lapses. The pilot, identified as an Omani citizen named al-Maimi, reportedly had extremist leanings and had been flagged for radicalization, yet was cleared to fly. Authorities are examining why "red flags" were not acted upon by the Ministry of Transport, Mossad, and Shin Bet. The incident was reportedly averted due to the quick thinking of an Indian pilot and Israeli personnel.

Al-Maimi, born in the UAE to an Omani father and Syrian mother, worked for Oman Air for seven years until February 2025. His employment was allegedly terminated due to suspicions of jihadist radicalization, possibly stemming from time spent in Syria. In 2024, while a co-pilot, "extremist materials" were found in his possession, leading to his removal from flying duties but allowing him to remain in an administrative role. He also had a brief, unconfirmed stint with Royal Air Maroc.

According to his now-deleted LinkedIn profile, al-Maimi studied aviation management at Buckinghamshire New University, graduating in 2023. He also worked for Flydubai this year. A Gulf diplomat suggested that security checks focused on criminal records rather than deeper background investigations into potential radicalization.

CNN reported that two posts appeared on al-Maimi's LinkedIn account nine hours after the incident, possibly pre-scheduled. One featured videos from a Boeing 737 MAX cockpit, including a zoom on an El Al plane and footage of Arkia aircraft. The posts also included an image of Ayman al-Zawahiri, the former leader of Al-Qaeda.

Another deleted social media account, reportedly belonging to al-Maimi, contained extremist religious views and over 3,000 tweets. Some posts discussed his mother's difficulty finding him a wife willing to accept his demand for a niqab, and his views on mixed-gender workplaces and relationships. One tweet described him giving potential partners "100 tests, including the virginity test."