On a routine Dubai‑to‑Tel Aviv flight, a 29‑year‑old Omani co‑pilot attempted to hijack a Flydubai aircraft, wounding the captain with an emergency axe before passengers seized control and forced the plane to land in Saudi Arabia. UAE Attorney‑General Hamad Saif al‑Shamsi told state news agency Wam that interrogations revealed the pilot’s radicalisation began in 2017 while he was studying in Australia.
What the investigation uncovered
The attorney‑general’s statements, quoted by Wam, indicate the pilot was influenced by takfiri ideology, consumed extremist literature, and followed online content glorifying terrorist groups. He allegedly prepared himself physically and psychologically, including training in boxing with a private coach. The pilot claimed he acted alone, though investigators continue to verify that assertion.
Australian links
Australian media reports confirm the pilot held a student visa from 2014 and attended RMIT University between 2015 and 2017, leaving before completing an engineering degree. The Sydney Morning Herald cited deleted X posts in which the pilot described his five‑year overseas study period as “the golden years of my religious commitment.” Following the incident, Australia’s Victorian Joint Counter‑Terrorism Team – comprising the AFP, Victoria Police and ASIO – announced it was probing the pilot’s connections to the country.
Security and recruitment questions
Authorities are scrutinising how the attacker, previously barred from flying by Oman Air due to concerns about extremist views, secured a cockpit seat with Flydubai. Officials say he passed standard security checks that did not specifically assess his background for radicalisation. Additionally, Israeli aviation rules prohibit pilots from nations lacking formal diplomatic ties, such as Oman, from operating flights to Israel, raising further questions about the vetting process.
Passenger response
Indian co‑pilot Capt Smit Machchhar was praised for unlocking the cockpit door after being attacked, enabling passengers to storm the cabin and regain control. Their decisive action forced the aircraft to divert to Saudi Arabia, averting a potential suicide attack on Tel Aviv’s airport.
Uncertainty and next steps
While UAE officials have outlined the pilot’s alleged radicalisation timeline, many details remain under investigation. The extent of any external influence, the completeness of security screenings, and the full motive behind the attempted attack are still being examined by both UAE and Australian authorities.
Key takeaways:
- UAE claims the pilot’s extremist drift began during his Australian studies.
- The attempted hijacking was thwarted by passengers, leading to a diversion to Saudi Arabia.
- Australian agencies are now reviewing the pilot’s links to the country.