Royal Air Maroc Responds to Reports Regarding the Work of Flydubai's Co-Pilot at the Company

- The Royal Moroccan Airlines stated that the pilot suspected of assaulting another pilot on a FlyDubai flight heading to Tel Aviv had never worked for the company, in light of reports regarding his professional background. The Moroccan news agency reported, citing Royal Air Maroc, that "following the circulation of information by some media outlets indicating that the co-pilot involved in the FlyDubai incident had previously worked for Royal Air Maroc, the company clarified that the individual had undergone a three-month theoretical training with them in 2025, in preparation for a potential employment."

Royal Moroccan Airlines added that "after the training period ended, the individual's application was rejected." Earlier, informed sources revealed to Afaaq News that the suspected pilot was dismissed from a previous position with Oman Air last year due to concerns regarding his "extremist views."

A regional diplomatic source familiar with the case told Afaaq News that the suspect was removed from a training program due to fears of him adopting extremist ideas, noting that he was transferred to another position within the company. The UAE Attorney General, Hamad Al-Shamsi, stated that investigations into the events that occurred on the FlyDubai flight to Tel Aviv on Wednesday revealed that "the co-pilot attempted to carry out a terrorist act."

Al-Shamsi explained that "the co-pilot initiated his plan during the flight, where he assaulted the captain inside the cockpit using an (emergency axe), and attempted to take control of the aircraft's controls," according to the official Emirates News Agency (WAM). Al-Shamsi pointed out that "investigations are still ongoing to uncover all the circumstances of the incident, its motives, and related connections, in addition to completing technical examinations and reviewing material and digital evidence, with the final results to be announced once the necessary procedures are completed."