According to a report by CNN on October 2nd, a source familiar with the matter revealed that in 2025, a suspect was dismissed from Oman Air due to extremist views.
Another source revealed that the suspect is a Omani citizen, born in the UAE. His father is from Oman and his mother is from Syria. He spent several years living in the UAE during his lifetime. An Israeli official also confirmed his identity.
According to a third source, the suspect previously worked for the Royal Moroccan Airlines.
According to an interview with a source familiar with the matter, the suspect has been banned from flying in Oman. Although subject to this ban, the suspect is still employed by Dubai Airlines, allowing him to operate flights on sensitive routes connecting the UAE and Israel.
It is currently unclear whether Oman has shared its concerns about the suspect's radicalization with other countries or airlines.
The UAE is leading the investigation into this incident. A UAE spokesman declined to comment on the suspect's past experiences in Oman, "in order not to pre-judge the outcome of the investigation or interfere with the investigation process."
An Israeli official revealed to CNN that the suspect had only worked at Dubai Airlines for eight months.
CNN notes that this newly disclosed information is likely to raise concerns about the importance of background checks in the aviation industry. New details remain unclear, and why a non-acknowledged Israeli citizen, who did not admit to being an Israeli citizen, was allowed to be a pilot on a flight to Tel Aviv despite strict aviation security measures implemented in Israel.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said on October 1 that the suspect was believed to have received “Islamic radical ideas.” On September 30, an Israeli official stated that several Israeli agencies were investigating how this Omani pilot became a member of the crew.
