What we know about the Flydubai suspect who allegedly 'refused to shake hands with women' - National Post

A plane carries passengers on a flyDubai plane to Israel after the initial flight was diverted due to an alleged hijacking attempt on Sept. 30, 2026. Photo by JACK GUEZ /AFP via Getty ImagesArticle contentThe suspect accused of attempting to hijack a Flydubai flight to Israel talked about “killing Jews” on social media, “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” and “refused to shake hands with women,” according to multiple reports.

The suspect, an Omani national, was the co-pilot on board the plane, flying from the United Arab Emirates to Israel, when he allegedly stabbed the pilot. He “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” according to Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

The suspect, who has not been identified, also talked about “killing Jews” on social media, an Israeli official told the Times of Israel. He was “radicalized into jihadist ideology,” the official said.

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According to Israeli media outlet Channel 16, a colleague of the suspect said he would not shake hands with women, the New York Post reported. He displayed “strange behaviour, especially around religious observances that were out of step with his surroundings,” the colleague said.

He had reportedly worked at the airline for eight months, according to CNN.

The incident, which has been labelled as a thwarted terror attack by Israeli officials, occurred on the flight departing from Dubai in the UAE. It was expected to land in Tel Aviv on Sept. 30. However, as the plane neared Israel, a struggle ensued, causing the aircraft to descend suddenly — dropping 17,400 feet (5,300 metres) in just under two minutes, CNN reported.

Following the attack, the hero pilot, identified as Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, was seriously injured, he was able to open the cockpit door. “He was stabbed in the head and his arm was basically split in two. There was a lot of blood,” said Netanyahu.

Passengers and crew members scrambled to subdue the suspect. The plane landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.