Flydubai Terrorist Identified As Radical Muslim With Bizarre Practice In Front Of Women

The Omani co-pilot terrorist accused of attempting to crash a Flydubai flight full of Israelis sat under radical Islamist teaching and was described by a colleague as a religious extremist who refused to shake hands with women.

The co-pilot, who has not been named publicly, allegedly stabbed Indian Captain Smit Machchhar aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 Wednesday as the aircraft was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv with 174 people aboard. Machchhar fought back and managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to rush in and overpower the attacker before two off-duty pilots aboard the aircraft took control and landed the plane safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

The suspect, an Omani national who had reportedly worked for Flydubai for less than a year, remains in Saudi custody as authorities investigate what prompted the attack and whether he acted alone.