Leaflets linked to “Free Palestine” groups and other pro-Palestinian material were reportedly found among the belongings of the Omani co-pilot accused of attacking the captain of a Flydubai flight, Israeli media reported on Friday. An Emirati source cited by i24 News said the co-pilot had repeatedly expressed support for Palestinians and hostility towards Israel.

The discovery has become part of a wider investigation into the co-pilot’s alleged radicalisation and possible terrorist motive. The Jerusalem Post, citing sources close to the probe, reported that he did not hold a second nationality. This has also raised questions over how an Omani national, from a country without diplomatic ties with Israel, was cleared to operate the Dubai-Tel Aviv route.

The incident took place on September 30 aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073. The aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit. The aircraft then entered a steep descent and lost around 14,000 to 16,000 feet before a hijacking distress call was transmitted. Passengers and crew members entered the cockpit and restrained the attacker. Two off-duty pilots also helped regain control of the aircraft. The plane later made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing others to intervene. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described the incident as appearing to be a suicide attempt. “He is lying on the floor, and he calls out to the crew, 'kill me, kill me'. So, it is clear that he was suicidal and was going to bring down the plane,” Netanyahu said.

Israeli Prime Minister’s spokesperson David Mencer said the attacker was standing over the aircraft controls and using his feet to damage them while attacking Machchhar. “That pilot wasn't sitting in the pilot's chair,” Mencer said. “He was standing over the controls. He was using his feet to destroy the controls of the aircraft while he was attacking that Indian pilot.” He added, “His objective was to bring down that aeroplane.”

Netanyahu also said interrogations indicated that the co-pilot “underwent Islamist radical indoctrination.” US President Donald Trump suggested the suspect could have links to Iran, saying, “We're working on it right now,” and adding, “They're being very open with us. I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes. But we're working on it right now.” Netanyahu said it was “too early to say” whether Iran was involved. Investigators are examining whether the suspect acted alone or had outside support.

The suspect was later transferred to the UAE, where Israeli investigators joined the local probe. Indian Ambassador to the UAE Deepak Mittal said Machchhar was stable and recovering well. He said the captain was “smiling and also laughing” during his hospital visit and called him a “brave son of India.”

Meanwhile, El Al cancelled two planned repatriation flights from Dubai after the UAE withdrew landing approval for Israeli carriers. The airline said, “Due to the cancellation of approval for Israeli companies to land in Dubai, as was reported by the authorities in Israel, we are forced to cancel, at this stage, our rescue flights (LY974-1, LY972) for tomorrow, Friday, October 2.” Scheduled flights for the following week remained listed, though they were fully booked.