Friday, October 2, 2026 - The Omani co-pilot accused of stabbing Indian Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a FlyDubai flight reportedly had social-media posts discussing the killing of Jews, according to an Israeli official involved in the investigation.

The revelation has intensified scrutiny of the co-pilot’s background after the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight was forced into an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia following the cockpit attack.

The flight plunged sharply after the attack before passengers intervened and helped restrain the co-pilot, allowing the aircraft to land safely in Tabuk.


Israeli officials have said the suspect appeared to have been radicalised and may have intended to bring down the aircraft, but they stressed that the investigation is still underway and that his precise motive has not been conclusively established. UAE authorities are leading the formal investigation, with other countries also examining the incident.


The latest findings are likely to increase questions over how the suspect was vetted and permitted to serve on a flight bound for Israel. Captain Machchhar, who was seriously injured during the attack, has been described as a hero after helping passengers gain access to the cockpit despite his injuries.


Investigators are now examining the suspect’s background, online activity and actions during the flight as they work to establish whether the attack was an attempted hijacking or part of a wider extremist plot.