Flydubai Copilot Who Tried Crashing Plane Talked About Killing Jews, Held Only Omani Citizenship: Reports

The Omani copilot who stabbed Indian pilot Captain Smit Macchchhar and allegedly attempted to crash a Dubai-Tel Aviv Flydubai flight had discussed killing Jews on social media, The Times of Israel reported, citing an Israeli official.

According to the official, citing conversations with passengers aboard the aircraft, the attacker also urged Emirati crew members to end his life during the incident.

"This was a person who was willing to commit suicide," the official stated. "His social media accounts say clearly that he has been radicalised into jihadist ideology. He talks about killing Jews."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said that investigations suggest the copilot had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination".

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Flydubai Flight Incident

Flydubai Flight FZ1073 was carrying 174 people from Dubai to Tel Aviv when a sudden struggle broke out in the cockpit, resulting in the lead pilot being attacked. The aircraft plunged nearly 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds.

During the chaos, the crew issued two distress warnings, including code 7500, the international signal for a hijacking.

Covered in blood, Captain Macchhar summoned "the last moments of his energy" to click open the cockpit door release. The action allowed passengers and crew to overpower the co-pilot. A secondary pair of flydubai pilots travelling on board then took control of the aircraft and safely landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Expressed Support For Palestine, Was Religious Extremist

During the ongoing investigation, pamphlets and publications from "Free Palestine" groups alongside additional anti-Israel literature were uncovered among the co-pilot's belongings, an iNews24 correspondent reported, citing an Emirati source. The source noted that the pilot had repeatedly expressed hostility toward Israel and support for the Palestinians.

In an interview with Fox News, Netanyahu said that once the attacker was restrained by passengers and crew, he repeatedly shouted "kill me, kill me" at the flight crew, indicating a clear suicidal motive.

Speaking to Israel's Channel 16 news, a fellow flydubai pilot described the attacker, who had joined flydubai eight months before, as a religious extremist who "prayed excessively throughout the day and refused to shake hands with women".

However, Netanyahu emphasised that he did not want to draw any firm conclusions about the motive yet.

Omani Pilot Didn't Have Dual Citizenship

The Omani co-pilot held only Omani citizenship, The Jerusalem Post reported, putting to rest questions regarding dual citizenship. Israel does not have formal diplomatic ties with Oman, and Omani nationals must obtain a visa before entering the Jewish State.

ALSO READ: flydubai Scare: Omani Co-Pilot Who Tried Crashing Israel-Bound Flight Was Very Religious, Stayed Away From Women

While Israel's transportation ministry told The Jerusalem Post earlier that under the airline's operating agreement, flydubai pilots must be citizens of nations that have established diplomatic ties with Israel, the bilateral aviation agreement between Israel and the United Arab Emirates does not require pilots to hold citizenship from countries that have diplomatic ties with Israel.

(With Inputs From Agencies)

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