Co-Pilot Accused of Axe Attack, Hijack Attempt on Israel-Bound Flight
An Omani co-pilot, previously flagged over extremism concerns and barred from flying on his country's airline, is accused of attacking the captain with an axe and attempting to seize control of an Israel-bound flight.
Chicago, IL, October 3, 2026 — An Omani co-pilot has been accused of attacking the captain with an axe and attempting to seize control of a flight bound for Israel. The co-pilot had reportedly been flagged previously over concerns related to extremism and was barred from flying on his country’s national airline.
Details surrounding the incident, including the specific flight, date, and airline involved, were not immediately available. The alleged attack occurred mid-flight, with the co-pilot reportedly using an axe against the captain. Following the altercation, the co-pilot is accused of attempting to take control of the aircraft. The summary indicates that the co-pilot had a history of being flagged for extremism concerns, which led to him being prohibited from flying for Oman’s national carrier.
The circumstances of the co-pilot’s previous flagging and the exact nature of those concerns were not detailed in the provided summary. Similarly, the outcome of the alleged hijacking attempt, including whether the flight landed safely and the status of the co-pilot and captain, was not specified. The report also did not provide information regarding any official investigations, charges filed, or the identities of the individuals involved beyond their roles as co-pilot and captain, or the co-pilot’s nationality.
Further information regarding the co-pilot’s employment status prior to the incident and the airline operating the flight is pending.
Story summarized from the original created by AP on abc7chicago.com, see more information here.
