Free Palestine’ leaflets found with Omani Flydubai co-pilot as terror-motive probe deepens

By Anjali Sharma
WASHINGTON – According to an Emirati source cited by Israel’s i24NEWS on Friday that material linked to “Free Palestine” groups was allegedly found among the belongings of the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the Indian captain of a Flydubai flight and trying to bring down the aircraft.

Investigators are also examining how the Omani national was assigned to the Israel-bound service, while authorities probe whether he acted alone or had links to an outside organization.

The disclosure added a new line of inquiry to the investigation into the September 30 incident aboard the Dubai-Tel Aviv flight.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has said investigators believe the man had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”, though the motive has not been conclusively established.

The Emirati source told i24NEWS that leaflets from “Free Palestine” organisations had been recovered from the co-pilot’s belongings.

The source also claimed that he had repeatedly voiced support for Palestinians and hostility towards Israel.

The identity of the co-pilot has not been publicly disclosed.

The sources familiar with the investigation told The Jerusalem Post that the suspect held only Omani nationality and did not possess a second passport.

His nationality has drawn fresh attention to the vetting of flight crews operating services to Israel, particularly because Oman does not have diplomatic relations with Israel.

The sources cited by The Jerusalem Post have disputed claims that the Israel-UAE aviation agreement restricts such flights to pilots from countries that maintain diplomatic relations with Israel.

The security crisis unfolded on September 30 aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The co-pilot is accused of attacking Indian captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit and attempted to force the aircraft down. Flight-tracking accounts cited in subsequent reports showed the aircraft losing thousands of feet within a short period before control was restored.

Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door despite suffering serious injuries.
Passengers and crew then entered, restrained the alleged attacker and allowed other Flydubai pilots travelling on the aircraft to take control.

The plane was diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia and landed safely. No passengers were reported injured.

Netanyahu described the incident as an apparent attempt to crash the aircraft.

“He is lying on the floor and he calls out to the crew, ‘kill me, kill me’. So, it is clear that he was suicidal and was going to down the plane,” Netanyahu said.

Israeli officials have stopped short of declaring the investigation complete.

Netanyahu has also said it was “too early to say” whether Iran had any role in the episode.
Israeli Defence Minister Israel Katz has described the episode as “an attempted jihadist terror attack”.

Israeli security officials are examining whether it may have been intended as a September 11-style attack and whether the co-pilot acted independently.

US President Donald Trump has suggested that investigators were looking at a possible Iranian connection.

“We’re working on it right now,” Trump said. “They’re being very open with us. I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes. But we’re working on it right now.”

No Iranian role has been established, and Netanyahu has publicly said the question remains unresolved.

The co-pilot has been moved to the UAE for questioning, according tomedia reports, as Emirati authorities lead the investigation with participation from Saudis and Oman.

India’s Ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, has met Machchhar in hospital and said the captain was recovering well.

The Indian Embassy said he was in good health, while Mittal said he was reassured by the pilot’s condition after meeting him.

Machchhar’s actions during the attack have drawn praise from Indian and Israeli officials after he succeeded in opening the cockpit despite his injuries, allowing others onboard to intervene.

The episode has also disrupted flights between Israel and the UAE.

Israeli carrier El Al cancelled repatriation flights from Dubai scheduled for Friday after approval for the services was withdrawn, although other Israeli carriers later said they had received permission to operate flights.

Flydubai has said the motives behind the cockpit incident remain subject to formal investigation and has urged against premature speculation while authorities establish the facts.