Omani co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash flydubai flight posted about killing Jews, asked cabin crew to kill him: Israeli official
While there is no official confirmation regarding any alleged Iranian link of the co-pilot, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that if a Tehran connection is established, the US will strike the Islamic Republic 'very hard'
An Omani co-pilot on a flydubai flight was found to have radicalized social media posts advocating violence against Jews, leading to a mid-air attack on Captain Smit Machchhar and an attempt to crash the plane. Materials supporting the Palestinian cause were also reportedly discovered with the co-pilot, fueling speculation about his motives and potential international affiliations, though official confirmation of any link to Iran remains pending.
An Omani co-pilot on a flydubai flight was found to have radicalized social media posts advocating violence against Jews, leading to a mid-air attack on Captain Smit Machchhar and an attempt to crash the plane. Materials supporting the Palestinian cause were also reportedly discovered with the co-pilot, fueling speculation about his motives and potential international affiliations, though official confirmation of any link to Iran remains pending.
An Omani co-pilot on a flydubai flight was found to have radicalized social media posts advocating violence against Jews, leading to a mid-air attack on Captain Smit Machchhar and an attempt to crash the plane. Materials supporting the Palestinian cause were also reportedly discovered with the co-pilot, fueling speculation about his motives and potential international affiliations, though official confirmation of any link to Iran remains pending.
The Omani co-pilot, who grievously injured Indian Captain Smit Machchhar mid-air in the cockpit of a flydubai flight en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv and tried to crash the plane, had posted about killing Jews in his social media handles, according to an Israeli official.
"This was a person who was willing to commit suicide," The Times of Israel quoted the official as saying. "His social media accounts (say) clearly that he has been radicalised into jihadist ideology. He talks about killing Jews."
The official, who cited conversations with passengers, said the attacker asked the crew members to kill him.
A reporter from iNews24, who cited a UAE source, claimed that leaflets and publications from 'Free Palestine groups were recovered from the Omani national's possession. He reportedly voiced support for the Palestinian cause and nurtured hostility towards Israel, according to the source.
While there is no official confirmation regarding any alleged Iranian link of the co-pilot, US President Donald Trump said on Thursday that if a Tehran connection is established, the US will strike the Islamic Republic "very hard".
His remarks came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radicalisation. "We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination," Netanyahu told Fox News. However, he said it's too early to say whether he had any connections with Iran or with any anyone else.