'Crazy' FlyDubai landing explained by Israeli pilot, who offers steps to prevent future crises

Eliran Almog, a former Israeli helicopter pilot turned aviation cybersecurity firm CEO, explained just how "crazy" it was that the near-hijacked FlyDubai flight 1073 managed to land safely after a violent midair attack.

"You can't imagine being in that position. You see the videos, you hear the kids screaming, and people don't necessarily understand what is happening," the former Israeli Air Force pilot told Fox News Digital.

After an Omani national copilot — who has since been identified as 29-year-old Hamam al-Hammami — allegedly stabbed FlyDubai flight 1073’s pilot Capt. Smit Machchhar mid-flight, the aircraft plummeted more than 14,000 feet in 30 seconds.

"The g-force on the plane was enormous, and you basically think you are going to die," Almog said, adding "it's crazy that the aircraft did not break up in the air, and landing it with the tail damage it sustained was remarkable."

FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING

Despite sustaining serious injuries, Machchhar was able to hit a button to open the cockpit door, allowing Israeli passengers to rush into the cockpit and subdue al-Hammami, officials said. A second FlyDubai crew that happened to be aboard the craft then stabilized the plane and successfully completed an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD 'THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,' INDIA'S PM SAYS

"As a pilot, if I were in this situation, I'm not sure I could have landed the aircraft. Every commercial aircraft is different, requiring different setup, landing procedures and limitations," Almog explained.

Almog, who now advises airliners and adjacent businesses on how to shore up their cybersecurity, explained how crucial it was for carriers to ensure their pilots undergo thorough screening processes for both psychological and potential political risks.

FLYDUBAI CO-PILOT ACCUSED OF STABBING CAPTAIN IDENTIFIED AS 29-YEAR-OLD OMANI NATIONAL

"We give a lot of weight in the process to the characteristics of the pilot. The technical and cognitive skills are important, but we make sure that the pilot is balanced and resilient in extreme cases," he said.

"Because aviation is critical infrastructure, we must rethink how we screen pilots — not just initially, but continuously. Even for experienced pilots, we need the right tools in place to identify when someone is facing family issues, psychological distress, or developing extreme views that could impose risk. These are practices the industry needs to adopt, and I call on governments and regulators to step in," he continued.

PILOT’S SUDDEN DEATH DURING OVERNIGHT LAYOVER PUTS SPOTLIGHT ON FATIGUE CONCERNS

While numerous countries, including Israel and Saudi Arabia, are conducting their own investigations into al-Hammami and the FlyDubai incident, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox & Friends in a Thursday interview that the copilot had been exposed to "Islamist radical indoctrination."

President Donald Trump, meanwhile, suggested the pilot could have been trained or motivated by Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC).

TRUMP’S IRAN CRACKDOWN COLLIDES WITH NATO ALLY SEEKING ACCESS TO AMERICA’S PRIZED FIGHTER JET

Almog told Fox News Digital that geopolitical concerns, such as the ones imposed by the ongoing wars in the Middle East, are increasingly becoming airlines' top risk factor for a number of reasons.

"If you ask the airlines today what are the main risks that they are looking forward on, it is geopolitical risk," he said. "... We are tracking GNSS and GPS jamming and spoofing activities, and I can show you the map and you can understand exactly where the conflicts are."

AMERICANS WARNED AGAIN TO RETHINK TRAVEL AS MISSILE ATTACK RATTLES HISTORIC REGION

Almog also explained how pilots are not the only people airlines need to screen or keep an eye on.

"Pilots aren't the only ones who can crash a plane. Over 80% of cybersecurity threats come from insiders — many of whom may not even realize they are posing a risk," he said. "It isn't just pilots; it's cabin crew and maintenance personnel. A plane can crash without the right fuel balance or proper maintenance parameters. Aviation relies on a complex supply chain. It would be a mistake to limit psychological screening and background monitoring to pilots alone — it needs to expand to every person who impacts flight operations."

Almog also praised both the resiliency of the flight's passengers and the heroism of Capt. Machchhar.

FATAL AIR AMBULANCE CRASH EXPOSES GROWING GPS DANGER FACING US FLIGHTS

"Ultimately, this was a chain of circumstances that prevented a total disaster," he said. "Beyond personal resilience, it took the courage of the off-duty Indian pilot who opened the door, and the fact that FlyDubai had two other pilots on board who landed the aircraft safely."

"As a pilot, I can tell you that isn't easy. Landing an unfamiliar commercial aircraft type under extreme stress requires specialized training, which is why rigorous screening and continuous support for flight crews are so vital," he added.

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FlyDubai co-pilot accused of stabbing captain identified as 29-year-old Omani national

The FlyDubai co-pilot accused of attacking a captain on a Tel Aviv-bound flight earlier this week allegedly used the cockpit's "crash axe" in the attack and has been identified as a 29-year-old Omani national.

The co-pilot has been identified as Hamam al-Hammami, a Middle Eastern source told Fox News, adding that he was barred from flying with Oman Air — his country's airline — in 2024 due to concerns about extremist views.

The source also said authorities believe the co-pilot moved to Dubai later that year.

The United Arab Emirates, which is leading the investigation into the attack on FlyDubai Flight 1073, said the co-pilot attacked Capt. Smit Machchhar with the cockpit's crash axe, incapacitating him and causing the aircraft to plummet before passengers on board seized control of the plane.

FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING

The source said al-Hammami spent a significant part of his life outside Oman, including time living with his mother, who is from Syria.

According to the source, FlyDubai did not check with Oman Air about al-Hammami before hiring him.

A Gulf diplomat told The Associated Press that investigators are working to determine whether al-Hammami acted as a "lone wolf or has any connection with any extremist groups."

The AP separately reported that Oman had barred al-Hammami from flying over concerns that he had adopted extremist views.

HERO FLYDUBAI PILOT SAYS HE WAS 'FIGHTING FOR MY LIFE' AS PLANE PLUNGED AFTER COPILOT ATTACK

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Friday described the incident as an act of terrorism, saying the attacker had undergone "Islamic radicalization."

"He came to crash the passengers on board," Netanyahu said, according to The Wall Street Journal.

This is a developing story. Please check back for updates.

Fox News Digital's Brittany Miller contributed to this report.

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UK man accused of planning terrorism acts against Nigel Farage also charged in murder of another politician

British prosecutors announced terrorism charges Friday against a 28-year-old man already in custody for the alleged murder of a conservative politician.

The Crown Prosecution Service charged Joshua Kerry of South Yorkshire with one count of preparation of terrorist acts, accusing him of "engaging in conduct in preparation of acts of terrorism, including against [Reform UK leader] Nigel Farage MP." 

Kerry has been in the custody of His Majesty's government since late July, after he was arrested and accused of murdering former Reform UK and Conservative politician Ann Widdecombe.

Prosecutors say Widdecombe was eating lunch in her Devon home July 8, when Kerry allegedly walked through the front door, beat her 21 times in the head with a hammer, took her wallet and was gone in an attack that lasted only two minutes.

IRAN PROBED IN ALLEGED TERRORISM PLOT AT UK BASE

Authorities say the latest charges against Kerry are related to events between May 31 and July 8. 

In a statement, Senior National Coordinator for Counterterrorism Policing, Deputy Assistant Commissioner Vicki Evans, said, "The charge announced today is a result of the tireless work of investigators across the Counterterrorism Policing network. This investigation has been led by a dedicated team of detectives, analysts and forensic experts, working on multiple lines of inquiry, which has resulted in this very serious charge."

U.K. Home Secretary Shabana Mahmood, posting on X, called the new charges against Kerry "extremely concerning" and sent her "profound sympathies" to the Farage family. She added that "an attack on anyone in politics is an attack on us all. This case raises serious questions about the security of those in public life." 

The Jo Cox Foundation, set up in honor of the Labour MP who was murdered in 2016, said in a statement, "No one in public life should have to fear for their safety. Violence, abuse and intimidation not only endangered individuals and their families, but threaten our democracy and have no place in public life. We must do more to prevent the rising levels of abuse and intimidation in politics."

Kerry is due back at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Wednesday.

Separately on Friday, Counterterrorism Policing announced charges against two Iranian men accused of plotting "to target the Jewish community in the Manchester area." 

The Crown Prosecution Service charged 36-year-old Salam Ahmadyan and 34-year-old Rahman Salehi with "engaging in conduct in preparation for terrorist acts, contrary to Section 5 of the Terrorism Act 2006," alleging that two men were "in contact with an overseas third-party who may be in Iran in relation to the plot."  

SUSPECT CHARGED IN MURDER OF UK POLITICIAN ANNE WIDDECOMBE

Evans called the charges "extremely serious" while reiterating that "we do not believe there to be any ongoing threat to the public in relation to this matter." 

Evans noted the alleged plot comes during the High Holy Day period and "coincides with the anniversary of the devastating terrorist attack last year at Heaton Park synagogue and comes in a wider context of increasing antisemitic incidents across the U.K."

Ahmadyan and Salehi have been remanded and are scheduled to appear at Westminster Magistrates’ Court Saturday.

Fox News’ Thomas Ferraro and Stephanie Bennett and The Associated Press contributed to this report.

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France’s teen riots take explosive new turn as government points finger at hard left

Violent student unrest intensified across France on Friday as riot police clashed with teenagers in several cities, roughly 400 high schools remained shuttered and authorities said some 2,000 people had been arrested since the protests began — while the government increasingly blamed the country’s hard left.

Tear gas filled streets in Strasbourg, protesters fired fireworks toward police lines in Marseille, and garbage bins were set ablaze in Rennes, while clashes also broke out in Paris, Reuters reported Friday. The latest violence marks a sharp escalation from the unrestt reported by Fox News Digital Thursday, when hundreds had been arrested as school blockades and clashes spread across the country.

Justice Minister Gérald Darmanin told RTL radio Friday that approximately 2,000 people — most of them teenagers — had been arrested since the protests erupted. He said parents whose children damage property should be required to pay reparations, according to Reuters.

"In the streets, the children are in danger," Education Minister Édouard Geffray told BFM TV.

ISRAELI AMBASSADOR COMPARES FRANCE'S FAR-LEFT LEADER'S RHETORIC TO HITLER AS ANTISEMITISM SURGES

Euronews reported Friday that at least 65 school staff members, including 40 principals, have been injured since the unrest began, along with roughly 170 students. More than 100 high schools have suffered what Geffray described as "severe damage."

The protests began over complaints about overcrowded classrooms, teacher shortages, long school days and deteriorating facilities. Students have blamed years of underinvestment for conditions inside schools, as the government unveiled its draft 2027 budget Thursday. Under the proposal, education spending would rise 1.7% to 65.53 billion euros, excluding teacher pensions — an increase below the rate of inflation, according to Reuters.

But as the protests have grown more violent, the unrest has also become a major political fight.

French intelligence agencies told a government crisis meeting Thursday that the protest movement had been initiated by politicians from the hard-left France Unbowed Party, known as LFI, Reuters reported Friday.

FRENCH COURT CLEARS PATH FOR CONSERVATIVE PRESIDENTIAL CANDIDATE, BUT HOUSE ARREST THREATENS CAMPAIGN

LFI lawmakers rejected the allegation and accused President Emmanuel Macron's government of politicizing the protests ahead of France's 2027 presidential election.

Le Monde reported Friday that Geffray accused LFI of fueling the initial demonstrations before saying the movement had been "taken hostage by ultra-left groups." LFI leader Jean-Luc Mélenchon has denied responsibility for the violence.

Simone Rodan-Benzaquen, senior envoy to Europe at the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, told Fox News Digital on Thursday that the unrest began with legitimate concerns but has since evolved into something far more serious.

"The students’ grievances about missing teachers and deteriorating schools were real at first," Rodan-Benzaquen said. "But dousing a principal in gasoline and attacking firefighters are acts of extreme violence. What makes this politically significant is the effort to turn frustration over schools into a much broader confrontation with the government."

The protests are quickly becoming a major issue in the campaign to succeed Macron next May, with Mélenchon denouncing the government’s response as repressive. Rodan-Benzaquen said LFI has "actively supported the mobilization," adding that "activists circulate footage of clashes, party accounts amplify it and elected officials present themselves as the students’ defenders."

"With an election next year," she said, "Mélenchon sees these mobilizations as a way to consolidate young voters and marginalize the moderate left. At a time of deep political, geopolitical and economic challenges, this is a very dangerous situation for France."

Marine Le Pen also accused LFI of playing a direct role in the unrest. "This is no longer about high school student protests. It is about riots organized by professionals and overseen by deputies from La France Insoumise," Le Pen wrote on X in a translated post. "We must pass a new anti-rioters law so that participation in a riot is a clearly identified offense."

PSG CHAMPIONS LEAGUE VICTORY CAUSES CHAOS IN PARIS, WITH 45 ARRESTED AND FIRES SET ACROSS CITY

The government has now deployed specialized riot police and mobile gendarmes as authorities struggle to contain the unrest, Le Monde reported.

The government's response is also drawing scrutiny. Students and rights groups have accused police of excessive force against minors, including the use of batons, tear gas and non-lethal weapons. Amnesty International warned against excessive force, while France's Interior Ministry said Friday that three investigations into alleged police violence had been opened, according to Reuters.

The unrest may also be beginning to spread beyond France. Students in Liège, Belgium, began demonstrating Thursday, and high schools there were closed Friday.

Fox News Digital reached out to the French government, the Education Ministry, the Interior Ministry and La France Insoumise for comment but did not receive responses in time for publication.

Tyler Speicher and Reuters contributed to this story.

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Hero FlyDubai pilot says he was 'fighting for my life' as plane plunged after copilot attack

Capt. Smit Machchhar, the FlyDubai pilot who heroically opened the plane's cockpit door after being stabbed by his copilot in a midflight attack, told Indian Prime Minister Narenda Modi he was fighting for his life before taking the heroic action.

"You are my biggest idol and I am feeling very proud that you called me and encouraged me. I was fighting for my life in that moment," he told Modi during a Friday phone call.

"It was a moment when I thought, because I had fallen on the floor, I was wounded and fell down. At that moment I thought if I don't get up, I've been flying for the last 17 years and I have been a captain for the last 11 years, and even if I shut my eyes, I can tell what is happening inside a plane. When I was lying on the floor, I could feel that the aircraft was plunging and I said to myself while I was getting beaten, 'this is the last push Smit, do it, the door is right there,'" he recalled.

"Somehow, I opened the door and everyone came in and everyone else had an equal role (in the rescue). I was trying to save myself but I also knew that I can't let anyone die," he said.

FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD 'THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,' INDIA'S PM SAYS

Machchhar’s ability to open the door allowed Israeli passengers on board to rush into the cockpit, incapacitate the copilot, and stabilize the quickly plummeting aircraft after it had plunged over 14,000 feet in 30 seconds.

FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING

The heroic pilot, whose efforts have garnered praise from Modi, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, and numerous passengers on the flight, said he turned to his faith to get through the harrowing ordeal.

"Whenever I'm in pain, I know only one thing, I chant the Hanuman Chalisa. I know that God saved me," Machchhar said.

FLYDUBAI PILOT SHOWED WORLD 'THE HIGHEST FORM OF COURAGE,' INDIA'S PM SAYS

Modi, in turn, told Machchhar that all of India was praying for him.

"Yesterday, prayers and chants were offered in all the temples and holy places, wishing for your long life, and we all are praying for your good health. You are going to be in good health very soon and India is very eager to welcome you," Modi said.

"People are chanting mantras. Your courage, patience, and presence of mind. You took a decision in a fraction of a second and saved the lives of so many people and today, the whole country can say this with pride — we Indians are not killers, we are life savers," Modi said. "And you endured so many wounds on your body and you are fighting a battle of life and death. In that moment as well, you did not think of your life, rather thought about the lives of the passengers. And the biggest thing is you enhanced the honor of 1.4 billion Indians and that is why I am feeling proud from my heart."

Machchhar was stabbed in the head and "his arm was basically split in two" during the attack, Netanyahu revealed to Fox News in a Thursday interview. But the pilot expressed hope that he would achieve a full recovery.

NETANYAHU PRAISES HEROIC BYSTANDER IN BLOODY COCKPIT ATTACK FOR PREVENTING ‘ANOTHER 9/11’

"I am not thinking about my wounds like typical wounds because that will hinder my recovery. I am taking these wounds like a journey which will progress slowly and it will take time, but I am very confident that this recovery will happen and I will be absolutely healthy," he told Modi.

After being stabilized in Saudi Arabia, where a second flight crew on board the plane safely landed the plane, Machchhar was taken to a hospital in the UAE, where he is now recovering.

FLYDUBAI PASSENGER SAYS CO-PILOT STABBED CAPTAIN BEFORE TERRIFYING PLUNGE, EMERGENCY LANDING

"I am fine and everything is all right," he told Modi.

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Trump’s Iran crackdown collides with NATO ally seeking access to America’s prized fighter jet

At least 83 flights operated by U.S.-sanctioned Iranian airlines landed in Turkey in the five days after a key American sanctions deadline, according to flight data analyzed by the Foundation for Defense of Democracies, putting a new spotlight on whether Washington will enforce its escalating pressure campaign against companies servicing the carriers in a NATO ally.

The Sept. 28 FDD report said U.S. pressure has helped push Iranian airlines out of several regional markets, including Iraq, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, but found that Turkey remains a significant gap in Washington’s effort to ground the carriers.

The findings come after the Treasury Department announced sweeping new sanctions on Iran’s aviation industry on Sept. 8, designating all 27 remaining active Iranian airlines under Executive Order 13902. Treasury said Iran's aviation sector has been used to transport weapons, personnel and illicit cargo and warned foreign businesses about the risks of continuing to support sanctioned carriers.

TRUMP PUSHES F-35 SALE TO TURKEY, BUT HIS OWN STATE DEPARTMENT SAYS ERDOĞAN HASN'T MET LEGAL REQUIREMENTS

The continued Iranian flights come at a sensitive moment in U.S.-Turkey relations. Turkey is a NATO ally, and President Donald Trump has publicly emphasized his close relationship with Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdoğan while signaling openness to restoring Ankara’s access to the F-35 fighter jet program. Turkey was removed from the program after purchasing Russia’s S-400 air-defense system, a move that also triggered U.S. sanctions in 2020.

During a July 2026 visit to Turkey, Trump said his administration would lift those sanctions and was considering allowing Ankara to buy F-35s, though congressional restrictions tied to Turkey’s possession of the S-400 remain an obstacle. Erdoğan said as recently as Sept. 24 that he expects Washington to take "concrete steps" toward Turkey’s return to the program.

Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent warned that after a Sept. 23 wind-down deadline, companies providing sanctioned Iranian airlines with services such as fuel or landing support risked losing access to the U.S. financial system. FDD cited Bessent saying that by that date, Iranian airlines would be "shut down around the world."

But FDD researchers Ahmad Sharawi and Sinan Ciddi said their review of Flightradar24 flight histories showed that at least 83 flights operated by U.S.-sanctioned Iranian carriers landed in Turkey between Sept. 23 and Sept. 27, after that deadline had passed. The flights landed in Istanbul, Ankara and Izmir, according to the report.

The researchers identified 12 sanctioned Iranian airlines among the arrivals. Iran Airtour and Caspian Airlines each accounted for 12 landings, Iran Air for 10, and ATA Airlines and AVA Airlines for nine each, according to FDD. Eight of the 12 carriers identified in the flight data were among the airlines newly designated by Treasury on Sept. 8.

IRAN LOSES KEY ECONOMIC LIFELINE IN MIDDLE EAST THAT TRUMP'S SANCTIONS COULDN'T REACH AS DEADLOCK PERSISTS

The Treasury Department told Fox News Digital that it has continued raising the issue directly with senior Turkish officials and has warned Turkish companies and financial institutions about their potential sanctions exposure.

"Following Treasury’s productive engagements with senior Turkish authorities last month, which quickly translated into tangible results—including the cancellation of Mahan Air flights and the revocation of Bank Mellat’s license—we have continued discussions regarding Türkiye’s aviation links to Iran and the sanctions exposure Turkish financial institutions and businesses face for facilitating these flights," a Treasury spokesperson told Fox News Digital. "We have made those risks clear and continue to address these issues at senior levels with the Turkish government," the spokesperson said.

The Treasury spokesperson pointed to the administration’s broader "Operation Economic Outcast" campaign, saying it was producing results as Washington seeks to cut off Iran’s remaining sources of revenue and access to international markets. "Operation Economic Outcast is delivering results as Treasury and our partners continue to sever the Iranian regime’s remaining economic lifelines," the spokesperson said. "Iran’s rial has fallen to record lows, Iran loaded no crude oil onto tankers in September, and countries across the region are taking concrete steps to restrict Iran’s access to the international financial system and commercial aviation."

"We will continue applying pressure and holding accountable those who provide the regime with the financial and commercial lifelines it needs to sustain its terrorist activities," the spokesperson added.

Turkey has indeed taken some steps to limit aviation ties with Iran. Turkish Airlines, AJet and Pegasus removed flights to Iran from their schedules, while Mahan Air suspended service to Turkey beginning Sept. 21, according to Turkish Minute, citing airline schedules and reporting by the Financial Times and other outlets.

Mahan Air has been under U.S. sanctions since 2011. The Treasury Department said at the time that the airline provided financial, material and technological support to Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps-Quds Force.

Other sanctioned Iranian airlines, however, have continued flying into Turkey. Caspian Airlines and Meraj Air were designated by Treasury as Specially Designated Global Terrorists in August 2014. Treasury said Caspian had transported IRGC personnel and weapons to Syria and said Meraj had ferried illicit cargo, including weapons, to the Syrian government.

Sharawi told Fox News Digital that the continued flights reflect a gap between Ankara’s public steps and its handling of sanctioned Iranian carriers.

"The fact that sanctioned Iranian airlines continue to land in Turkey, despite Washington’s clear effort to restrict their operations, is a testament to Ankara’s willingness to take symbolic measures while turning a blind eye to much of Iran’s broader activity," Sharawi said.

MILLIONS OF BARRELS OF IRANIAN OIL SIT BEYOND TRUMP BLOCKADE AS HE VOWS ‘ZERO LEAKAGE’

Sharawi argued that Washington could increase pressure by targeting Turkish companies that continue providing services to sanctioned Iranian carriers.

"Ankara may think it can get away with this, but Washington has not hesitated in the past to sanction Turkish entities that support sanctioned Iranian actors," he told Fox News Digital. "Continuing to target companies that provide that support would send a clear message to Ankara that facilitating Iran’s sanctioned networks will carry consequences."

He said such measures could have a practical effect on Iran’s ability to maintain the routes.

"If the United States targets the support system that keeps these sanctioned Iranian carriers operating, private Turkish companies will have much less incentive to continue doing business with them," Sharawi said. "If those companies begin cutting ties, it could significantly restrict Iranian airlines’ ability to operate routes to Turkey."

The Turkey findings come as another advocacy group is raising concerns about a different potential weak point in Washington’s campaign to isolate Tehran: Iranian maritime commerce in waters near Malaysia.

United Against Nuclear Iran said Sept. 25 that its investigators traveled roughly 100 nautical miles into the South China Sea near Malaysia’s Eastern Outer Port Limits, where the group said it observed Iranian-linked tankers, cargo vessels and bulk carriers alongside Malaysian bunker vessels supplying ships with fuel. UANI described the concentration of ships as a "floating city" supporting Iran’s sanctions-evasion network. Those findings were produced by UANI and have not been independently verified for this draft.

EXCLUSIVE: RUSSIAN DOCUMENT REVEALS SWEEPING IRAN PLAN SPANNING NUCLEAR, FINANCE AND AVIATION

"After seeing this floating city of ghost tankers with our own eyes, it is clear it is serving as an illicit Malaysia-backed lifeline for the Iranian regime," UANI CEO Ambassador Mark D. Wallace said in a Sept. 25 statement. He accused Malaysian entities of providing support that allows Tehran to continue generating revenue despite international efforts to economically isolate the regime.

UANI Chairman and former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush and Wallace called on the Treasury Department to sanction entities associated with Malaysia’s Pengerang petroleum complex as well as Malaysian entities or officials they allege are facilitating the trade. Their call for sanctions is an advocacy position and does not establish that the Malaysian entities have violated U.S. law.

Fox News Digital has learned that Treasury has mapped Iranian oil-smuggling networks, facilitators and financial channels, including deceptive shipping activity off the coast of Malaysia, and that senior Treasury officials continue to raise the issue with Malaysian and other foreign government counterparts.

Taken together, the findings from FDD and UANI highlight what the organizations describe as continuing enforcement challenges as Washington attempts to cut Iran off from international aviation, shipping and financial networks. Treasury has continued expanding that campaign: on Sept. 29, it announced another round of sanctions targeting individuals and companies it said had procured weapons and components for Iran’s Ministry of Defense and Armed Forces Logistics.

Fox News Digital reached out to the Turkish and Malaysian embassies for comment but did not receive a response.

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DOE employee charged with trying to aid Iran-backed Houthis, feds say

A U.S. Department of Energy worker from Richland, Washington, was arrested Thursday and charged with attempting to provide "material support" to the Iran-backed Houthis, according to the Department of Justice (DOJ).

Ashton Hamed Ellaboudy, 51, is accused of attempting to use his electrical engineering knowledge and background to support the terrorist group in improving its mobile communications infrastructure, secure components for drones as well as chemicals for homemade explosives.

"As alleged, a U.S. government employee traveled overseas and used his specialized expertise in an attempt to aid the Houthis, a designated Foreign Terrorist Organization backed by Iran," Assistant Attorney General for National Security John A. Eisenberg said in a statement.

"Additionally, Ellaboudy acquired materials for the construction of explosive material and drones capable of delivering these explosives. These allegations are so deeply disturbing that they almost defy imagination."

IRAN’S PROXY WAR HAS CROSSED OCEANS AND IS NOW KNOCKING ON AMERICA’S DOOR

Federal authorities took Ellaboudy into custody after an investigation by the FBI’s Inland Northwest Joint Terrorism Task Force.

According to court records, Ellaboudy first attracted the FBI’s attention after he allegedly bought precursor chemicals, or starting ingredients, and components often used in homemade explosives, as well as parts to make drones.

The DOJ said that, in 2024, Ellaboudy took sick leave from his Department of Energy job and said he had been exposed to highly concentrated nitric acid, a key chemical compound used in explosive manufacturing.

FBI OFFERS $200K REWARD FOR FORMER AIR FORCE INTELLIGENCE AGENT ACCUSED OF SPYING FOR IRAN

In 2025, prosecutors allege, Ellaboudy used an official passport from his previous role with the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to travel from Washington state to Oman.

He then crossed into Yemen. After returning to the U.S., Ellaboudy allegedly told border officers his trip was authorized government business.

Investigators also said Ellaboudy advised an undercover FBI confidential human source posing as a representative of a Houthi colonel.

For the Houthis, Ellaboudy allegedly tested solar generators, modified power systems, created circuit schematics and provided support to the group’s communications, the statement said.

NAVY VETERAN AMONG TRIO WHO ALLEGEDLY WANTED TO BEHEAD SOLDIER AND FUND ISIS DRONE ATTACKS ON AMERICANS

"This individual allegedly betrayed the U.S. and attempted to aid the Houthis, a designated foreign terrorist organization, but thanks to the work of the men and women of the FBI, his actions were detected, and he is now in custody," Assistant Director Jarod Brown of the FBI’s Counterterrorism Division said.

Officials also confirmed Ellaboudy's alleged activities did not target local nuclear sites.

"This matter did not involve an attempt to harm the Hanford Site or its workforce, and at no time was there a threat to the safety or security of the site," said Ray Geimer, office manager of the Department of Energy Hanford Field Office.

Ellaboudy faces a maximum penalty of 20 years in prison if convicted.

He is scheduled to make his initial court appearance before a federal magistrate judge at 11 a.m. Oct. 2 in Richland, according to the Justice Department.

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