The FlyDubai co-pilot who officials said nearly crashed a Tel Aviv-bound
flight with 182 people aboard was barred from flying by his native Oman over
concerns that he had adopted extremist views.

That's according to reporting by the Wall Street Journal, citing people
familiar with the matter.

The co-pilot was subsequently hired by the United Arab Emirates-based
FlyDubai.

It wasn't immediately clear to what extent he was vetted when he was hired in
the Emirates.

Meanwhile, India released footage from a video call between Prime Minister
Narendra Modi and the pilot who was stabbed ... and who let passengers into
the cockpit to subdue his attacker.

Speaking from an Abu Dhabi hospital bed with his head bandaged, the pilot
said he realized he had to get the door to the main cabin open despite
grievous injuries ... as he felt the plane rapidly losing altitude under the
co-pilot's control.

AP_JvW