Tel Aviv — Israeli Official Says FlyDubai Co-Pilot Was Radicalized

An Omani co-pilot nearly crashed a Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai jet, and an Israeli official says he was radicalized, according to The Washington Post. Authorities are still trying to determine how the near-crash happened.

What happened on the FlyDubai flight?

The Post reports authorities were working to establish how the co-pilot, an Omani national, nearly brought down the jet during a flight bound for Tel Aviv. The newspaper did not detail in the material reviewed by HTT News the flight's date, how the attempt was stopped, or whether passengers or crew were injured.

What did the Israeli official say about the co-pilot?

An Israeli official told the Post the co-pilot had "the motive to kill Jews." The official's name and title were not specified in the available reporting. The characterization — that the co-pilot was "radicalized" — comes from Israeli authorities, not from FlyDubai, Oman, or an independent investigative body, based on the source material reviewed.

What is the Washington Post's inquiry examining?

The Post's own report is titled, per its web address, "Inquiry into FlyDubai attack turns security lapses," indicating the newspaper's investigation has shifted toward gaps in security screening tied to the episode. The material available to HTT News does not specify what those lapses were, which agency or airline is responsible for the screening process in question, or whether Israeli, Emirati, or Omani authorities are leading any parallel inquiry.

What is still unknown about the incident?

Several basic facts are not addressed in the reporting reviewed for this article. There is no confirmation of the flight number, the aircraft type, the date of the incident, or the current status of the co-pilot — including whether he has been detained, charged, or identified by name. FlyDubai, which operates as a sister carrier to Emirates and is based in Dubai, has not been quoted responding to the Israeli official's characterization in the material provided.

What happens next in the investigation?

The Post's framing suggests additional reporting on security screening failures is forthcoming, but no timeline for conclusions was given in the source material. Questions likely to follow include how the co-pilot cleared background checks required for commercial flight crews, whether any prior warning signs were flagged and missed, and how Israeli authorities obtained information about the co-pilot's alleged motive. Those questions remain open as of this report.

HTT News will update this story as the Post or other outlets publish additional, corroborated details about the flight, the co-pilot's identity, and the security review now underway.