The first officer suspected in the incident involving flydubai flight FZ1073 had been barred from flying in Oman before joining the airline over concerns that he had embraced extremist ideological views. The disclosure has raised fresh questions about the background checks conducted before he was hired following the incident on the Dubai–Tel Aviv route.

The Wall Street Journal reported on Friday, October 2, citing people familiar with the matter, that the Omani first officer had previously been grounded by Oman amid concerns that he may have adopted extremist ideological views. Despite the ban, he was later hired by flydubai and assigned to the sensitive route between the UAE and Israel.

It remains unclear whether Oman informed UAE authorities or flydubai of its earlier concerns and decision to ground him. No specific details have been released about the nature of the views in question or when the ban was imposed. Omani authorities had not publicly commented on the matter at the time of the report.

Flight FZ1073 was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on the morning of Wednesday, September 30, when the first officer attacked Captain Smith Machhar. At the height of the incident, the aircraft lost more than 16,000 feet in just over 30 seconds before transmitting emergency signals indicating a general emergency and “unlawful interference”. The injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the first officer. Two off-duty flydubai pilots who were on board later took control of the aircraft and landed it in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The first officer was transferred to Abu Dhabi after receiving treatment in Saudi Arabia, and the UAE-led investigation is continuing. Israeli officials have identified him as an Omani national and said he may have intended to crash the aircraft, although the motive behind the incident remains unclear. Israel’s ambassador to the UAE has also said that no definitive motive has yet been established.