The public record does not explain how Flydubai cleared this individual to fly. Reporting describes the UAE’s standard licensing and medical requirements, while The Associated Press separately reported that Oman Air had barred the co-pilot from flying over concerns about extremist views. The available reports do not establish what Flydubai knew, which checks it performed, or whether relevant information was shared. The UAE investigation was still under way as of October 3, 2026.
What investigators have said about the flight
On October 3, UAE Attorney General Hamad Saif Al Shamsi said investigators found that the co-pilot attacked the captain with the cockpit’s crash axe and attempted to take control of the aircraft. He described the incident as an attempted terrorist act. Investigators were continuing to examine the circumstances, motive, possible links, and physical and digital evidence; motive and any wider affiliation had not been established as final findings. Source
Saudi Arabia’s preliminary account, reported October 1, said the captain was assaulted and both pilots were injured. The aircraft diverted to Tabuk, where the pilots received medical treatment; they later left Saudi Arabia after medical clearance. Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said October 2 that a full official investigation was under way and that the airline would allow it to establish the facts. Saudi account · Flydubai statement
What “cleared to fly” can mean
There are separate questions behind the phrase: whether a pilot meets formal regulatory requirements to operate an aircraft, and whether an employer or security authority identifies concerns during hiring or screening. Passing licensing and medical requirements does not, by itself, answer what an airline knew about a candidate’s employment history or other background.
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Formal licensing and fitness requirements
Al Jazeera’s October 1 explainer described the standard UAE General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) framework as requiring a valid professional pilot licence, the relevant aircraft type rating, a current Class 1 medical certificate, English-language proficiency, and required flight experience. It said the Class 1 medical process covers physical and mental health, with some concerns potentially leading to further assessment. These are general requirements, not confirmation of this co-pilot’s individual records. Al Jazeera’s explainer
The individual’s verified licence, type rating, medical certificate, and flying hours have not been established in the reporting reviewed. Al Jazeera noted that his qualifications and hours had not been publicly reported. Al Jazeera’s reporting
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Employment and security screening
Employment checks and security screening are distinct from a pilot licence or medical certificate. EASA told Reuters, as described by Al Jazeera, that Flydubai’s certification and safety oversight fall under the UAE GCAA, including applicable requirements concerning crew and fitness to fly. Al Jazeera also described Israel’s security department as responsible for security screening of foreign flights and aviation security arrangements; its published responsibilities did not specify routine individual background vetting of foreign commercial pilots or cabin crew. That distinction does not establish which checks were applied to this employee. Al Jazeera’s account of EASA and Israeli responsibilities
What has been reported about his previous employment
The Associated Press reported October 3, citing a regional official and a person familiar with the matter who spoke anonymously, that Oman had barred the co-pilot from flying over concerns that he had adopted extremist views and moved him to an administrative job at Oman Air. AP also cited a person familiar with the matter who said Flydubai later hired him. These are attributed reports, not a disclosed regulator finding or a public personnel record.
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A Gulf diplomat told AP that the co-pilot had undergone standard security checks, which appeared focused on criminal convictions rather than potential signs of radicalization. AP said it was not immediately clear how extensively Flydubai vetted him. Oman had not publicly responded to repeated questions at the time of the AP report. The Associated Press report
AP also reported two other employment and education details that do not resolve Flydubai’s hiring decision: Royal Air Maroc said he completed three months of theoretical training in 2025 as part of pre-employment processing but was not selected; Buckinghamshire New University said he completed an aviation management distance-learning course, not pilot training. The Associated Press report
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What remains unknown
- Whether and when Flydubai verified the co-pilot’s licence, type rating, medical certificate, and flight experience.
- Which employment-history and background checks Flydubai performed, and what those checks returned.
- What Flydubai received from Oman Air or authorities, whether an applicable information-sharing channel existed, and what the airline’s decision-makers knew.
- The investigation’s final findings about motive or possible links. The attorney general said those matters remained under examination.
Flydubai CEO Ghaith Al Ghaith said: “I know there are many questions about what happened on flight FZ1073. There is a full official investigation by the competent authorities and with the full support of flydubai. It is important that we let this process uncover the facts.” Flydubai statement
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