Co-Pilot Who Allegedly Stabbed Indian Pilot Had Been Banned from Flying in Oman: Report

Co-Pilot Who Allegedly Stabbed Indian Pilot Had Been Banned from Flying in Oman: Report

The Omani co-pilot accused of stabbing Indian Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a flydubai flight had previously been banned from flying in Oman over concerns that he had been radicalised, according to a report by The Wall Street Journal, citing people familiar with the matter.

The incident reportedly occurred during the flight after the co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Machchhar, while the aircraft was subsequently sent into a dangerous descent toward the ground.

The report said the co-pilot had earlier faced restrictions on flying in Oman amid concerns over alleged radicalisation.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier claimed that the co-pilot had undergone what he described as “Islamist radical indoctrination.”

The claims regarding the co-pilot’s background and the circumstances surrounding the incident remain subject to official investigation and independent verification.