FlyDubai co-pilot was fired from Oman Air job for having “extremist views,” sources say

Updated on: October 2, 2026 / 7:11 PM EDT / CBS News

A FlyDubai co-pilot who earlier this week allegedly made a violent attempt to crash a passenger aircraft before being subdued by passengers and other crew members was previously fired from a position with Oman Air for holding "extremist views," multiple sources told CBS News on Friday.

The flight Wednesday from Dubai to Tel Aviv was approaching Israel when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the flight captain and attempted to crash the aircraft, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said. The captain was able to fight off the co-pilot long enough to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers then overpowered the co-pilot, and two off-duty pilots who were on the flight managed to gain control of the aircraft and make an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

There were 174 people on board the plane. No passengers were seriously injured in the incident. The pilot sustained stab wounds in the attack. Saudi authorities said two crew members were hospitalized with unspecified injuries, and the co-pilot remained in custody on Thursday.

The co-pilot of the flight has not yet been publicly identified, although multiple sources familiar with the investigation told CBS News…

Original source: https://www.cbsnews.com/entertainment/