Updated 1w+ ago · World
Flydubai co-pilot flagged for extremism before crash ax attack
The co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was suspended by Oman Air in 2024 after being flagged as a security risk. He was later hired by Flydubai, where he served as first officer on a Dubai-to-Tel Aviv route.
- 2024: Oman Air grounded him after he was found with materials linked to radical ideology.
- 8 months was all the time he had worked for Flydubai before the incident, per an Israeli official.
- One source told Fox News that Flydubai did not check with Oman Air before hiring him.
- Oman Air allowed him to continue in an administrative role during the one-year flight ban.
Why it matters: The suspect is cooperating with investigators and has indicated his intent was to crash the aircraft in Israel, according to sources briefed on the investigation.
- Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu called the incident terrorism and said the suspect had undergone what he described as "Islamist radical indoctrination."
- It remains unclear whether Omani authorities shared their concerns about the suspect with other governments or airlines.
How 50 sources split on this story
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50 sources · 88 articles · 44% Right coverage
Where they split: Outlets agree on the core facts but differ in emphasis: right-leaning outlets focus on how the suspect reached a Tel Aviv flight despite a known ban, while left-leaning outlets center on the intelligence failure and ongoing investigation.
Center18 sources
Associated Press1w+Co-pilot in FlyDubai attack is identified, and other Mideast developmentsDeutsche Welle1w+UAE investigators say Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with ax in attempted 'terrorist' actCTV News1w+Axe-wielding FlyDubai co-pilot had been flagged over extremism concernsFinancial Times1w+Co-pilot used axe to carry out ‘terrorist act’ on Flydubai flightJerusalem Post1w+Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted 'terrorist' attack, UAE saysNews4Jax1w+Axe-wielding FlyDubai co-pilot had been flagged over extremism concernsNewsweek1w+Who Is Hamam Al Hammami? FlyDubai Co-Pilot Alleged Attacker ID’d: ReportsThe National Desk1w+Terror-related images found on social media tied to FlyDubai attack suspect: reportTimes of Israel1w+UAE says flydubai copilot used cockpit emergency ax to attack captain in ‘terrorist act’Bloomberg1w+UAE Says FlyDubai Co-Pilot Used Emergency Ax in Crash AttemptCNBC1w+FlyDubai plane attack by co-pilot was an attempted 'terrorist' act, UAE saysFortune1w+FlyDubai co-pilot used cockpit’s crash axe to try seizing control of flight and was barred from flying by Oman due to concerns over extremist views | FortuneFrance 241w+Co-pilot on Flydubai flight was banned from flying by Oman for holding extremist viewsPBS NewsHour1w+AP report: Axe-wielding FlyDubai co-pilot had been flagged over extremism concernsReuters1w+Flydubai co-pilot attacked pilot with axe, attempted 'terrorist' attack, UAE saysSky News1w+Flydubai co-pilot 'attacked pilot with axe in suspected terrorist attack', UAE saysWGAL 81w+Axe-wielding FlyDubai co-pilot had been flagged over concerns about extremist views, sources sayYahoo News1w+FlyDubai co-pilot was reportedly fired from Oman Air job for 'extremist views'
Left coverage, 10 sources: The left frames this as a systemic intelligence and aviation-security failure, centering the investigation's open questions and the heroism of passengers who averted disaster.
CNN1w+The Flydubai attack suspect was removed by another airline over concerns about his extremist views, sources sayABC News1w+Suspect in FlyDubai incident was previously identified as security risk: OfficialsThe Independent1w+Israel flight hijacking latest: FlyDubai co-pilot who used crash axe in ‘terror incident’ studied at UK universityThe Boston Globe1w+Axe-wielding FlyDubai co-pilot had been flagged over extremism concernsThe New York Times1w+Omani Co-Pilot on FlyDubai Flight Is Said to Have Extremist ViewsAl Jazeera1w+Who is the mystery co-pilot behind the Flydubai attack?Los Angeles Times1w+FlyDubai copilot allegedly wielded cockpit ax in 'terrorist act'NBC News1w+Flydubai pilot attacked captain with cockpit’s crash axe in attempted terrorist attack, UAE saysThe Guardian1w+Flydubai co-pilot used crash axe to attack captain, says UAEThe Washington Post1w+FlyDubai co-pilot used crash ax to attack captain, UAE says
Right coverage, 22 sources: The right frames this as a preventable breakdown in vetting and oversight, pressing on why a pilot banned in his home country was allowed onto a sensitive route to Israel.
RedState1w+Omani Co-Pilot Now Identified, and More Details Are Out About 'Terrorist Act'Fox News1w+FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing captain identified as 29-year-old Omani nationalThe Epoch Times1w+Co-Pilot Used Crash Axe in Attempted Terrorist Attack on Israel-Bound Flight, UAE SaysWall Street Journal1w+FlyDubai Co-Pilot Used Crash Ax in Attack, Says U.A.E.Breitbart News1w+UAE Calls Flydubai Attack ‘Terrorist Act’ for First TimeDaily Mail1w+British-educated Flydubai terrorist was found with al-Qaeda propaganda and plans to target Israeli airplanes three years ago - but was still allowed to flyNew York Post1w+Flydubai co-pilot used crash ax to hack at pilot in attempted 'terrorist attack': UAE officialPJ Media1w+Identity of FlyDubai Hijacker Revealed, Possible 9/11 TieThe Daily Wire1w+Flydubai Hijacker Identified As Omani Citizen Who Struggled To Find a WifeWashington Examiner1w+Flydubai co-pilot attacked captain with crash axe in hijackingBizPac Review1w+Would-be FlyDubai hijacker had been GROUNDED in 2024 due to ‘radical’ viewsCitizen Free Press1w+Terrorist pilot (from oman) previously identified as ‘security risk.’Human Events1w+Flydubai terror suspect had pro-al Qaeda propaganda on LinkedIn, was removed from Oman Air over extremismLegal Insurrection1w+WSJ: Flydubai Attacker Was Grounded by Oman Over ‘Radical Views’National Post1w+What we know about the Flydubai suspect who allegedly 'refused to shake hands with women'Newsmax1w+Reports: Oman Grounded FlyDubai Co-Pilot as Security RiskNTD1w+Flydubai Co-pilot Attacked Pilot With Axe, Attempted Terrorist Attack, UAE SaysOne America News1w+Colleague of accused flydubai hijacker: He is 'religious extremist who refused to shake hands with women'The Right Scoop1w+BREAKING: FlyDubai terrorist pilot was previously identified as a jihadi security riskThe Sun1w+Pilot who ‘attacked captain with AXE in terror attack’ is named & was ‘previously banned from flying over radical views’The Washington Times1w+Co-pilot accused in FlyDubai attack was previously flagged as a security risk, officials sayZeroHedge1w+UAE Says Omani Flydubai Co-Pilot Attacked Captain With Axe, Tried To Seize Israel-Found Jet For "Terror Act"
What’s next: Israeli officials are expected to question the suspect in the UAE as part of the Emirati-led probe.
- Israeli agencies — including Shin Bet, Mossad, the military, and the Transportation Ministry — are investigating how he joined the crew.
- Did Oman Air or Omani authorities share their concerns about the suspect with other countries or carriers?
- Did Flydubai know about the Oman Air ban before hiring him, and if so, why was he assigned to the Tel Aviv route?
- Did the suspect act alone, or did he have assistance — a question Netanyahu said Israel is actively investigating?
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