The Omani co-pilot who stabbed Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar and tried to take control of a Flydubai flight had discussed killing Jews on social media, an Israeli official told The Times of Israel. The official also said the co-pilot asked Emirati crew members to kill him after he was overpowered.
The incident took place on Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, 30th September. Around two hours into the journey, the aircraft plunged more than 17,000 feet before the Indian pilot, Captain Machchhar, managed to overpower the attacker and regain control of the plane. The flight was later diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely.
Captain Machchhar, who was seriously injured during the attack, was later taken to hospital for treatment. Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu have praised him for his actions during the crisis.
Israeli official says attacker showed signs of jihadist radicalisation
According to the Israeli official cited by The Times of Israel, the co-pilot’s social media activity showed signs of what the official described as jihadist radicalisation. “This was a person who was willing to commit suicide,” the official said. “His social media accounts [say] clearly that he has been radicalised into jihadist ideology. He talks about killing Jews.”
Omani copilot’s social media ‘talks about killing Jews’; Israel will take part in probing him — officialhttps://t.co/rZljBVBw4B
— The Times of Israel (@TimesofIsrael) October 1, 2026
The official, however, stressed that investigators had not yet established the motive with certainty.
“We can’t say for sure until the investigation’s over,” the official said. “But it certainly seems like he was a suicide actor who was probably going to try to down that plane.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also said preliminary investigations pointed towards what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination”. Speaking to Fox News, Netanyahu said it appeared “very likely” that the attacker intended to bring down the aircraft.
Netanyahu also said the attacker repeatedly called on the crew to kill him after being restrained. “He was calling out to the aircrew ‘kill me, kill me’, so it’s clear he was suicidal – that’s not a question,” Netanyahu said.
However, Netanyahu added that he did not want to conclude the motive before the investigation was completed.
Co-pilot had pro-Palestinian material
Separate reports have also suggested the co-pilot’s views and possible radicalisation. An iNews24 correspondent, citing an Emirati source, reported that leaflets and publications linked to “Free Palestine” groups were found among his belongings.
The source also claimed that the co-pilot had repeatedly expressed support for Palestinians and hostility towards Israel. The information is part of the wider investigation into whether the attack was connected to terrorism or an extremist motive.
The UAE’s state news agency has confirmed that an investigation has begun to determine “whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose”.
UAE and Israel investigating the attack
The co-pilot is expected to be transferred to the UAE, where authorities are investigating the incident. The Israeli official said Israel would also take part in the investigation. “Our understanding is he’s going to be transferred to the UAE,” the official said. “We will be part of that investigation.”
Saudi Arabia’s Interior Ministry said the pilot and co-pilot were returned to the UAE on Thursday after medical teams cleared them. The aircraft is registered in the UAE and operates under its flag, giving UAE authorities jurisdiction over the case.
Israel is also carrying out its own investigation and reviewing security procedures following the incident. A separate Israeli security source told BBC Arabic that preliminary findings suggested the attacker intended to crash the aircraft. According to the report, Israel’s intelligence agency Mossad interviewed passengers after they reached Tel Aviv.
Questions over how the co-pilot got onto the flight
The incident has also raised questions about how an Omani national was allowed to serve as co-pilot on a flight carrying passengers to Israel. Oman does not have formal diplomatic relations with Israel, unlike the UAE.
Netanyahu said pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel are generally not permitted to fly there, but acknowledged that a loophole appeared to have allowed the situation to occur. “Obviously there was a loophole here, and we’re taking care of that among other things… with the full co-operation, I have to say, of the Emirati government,” Netanyahu said.
