Flydubai suspect barred from flying in Oman: reports

Multiple media outlets reported that the co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv had previously been barred from flying in Oman or removed from a flying job over concerns about extremist views.

The reports identified the suspect as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami.

The Wall Street Journal reported that Omani authorities had banned the pilot from flying over concerns he had adopted radical ideological views, citing people familiar with the matter. CNN reported that the pilot was removed from a job at Oman's national airline last year over concerns about extremist views, citing two people familiar with the matter.

Al Arabiya, citing an informed source, reported that Omani authorities determined the co-pilot held extremist views and that he had spent time in Syria. ABC News reported, citing senior intelligence and law enforcement officials familiar with the investigation, that the suspect had allegedly been found with extremist materials while he was a trainee.

The flight made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, on Wednesday after Israeli officials alleged that one of the pilots tried to take control of the aircraft and crash it.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had assaulted the Indian captain, who managed to open the cockpit door before passengers and crew overpowered the attacker. Netanyahu said the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”.

The airport operator said the captain and co-pilot were injured and taken to hospital after the landing. Netanyahu said Saudi authorities had arrested the co-pilot and were questioning him.

US President Donald Trump said Thursday that Tehran was likely involved and warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it was responsible. He said the United States was still working on the matter.