Two United Airlines pilots reportedly gave up their first-class seats while deadheading on a flight and spent
By Bernard Moerdler,
Two United Airlines pilots reportedly gave up their first-class seats while deadheading on a flight and spent the entire trip in the cockpit because they did not trust the pilot operating the aircraft.
The pilot, Capt. Ibrahim R. Mossallam, had previously been removed from service after social media posts surfaced in which he defended the October 7 Hamas attack.
In a post on October 7, 2023, Mossallam described the attack as "resistance" by "brave people" and blamed what he called the "Zionist regime."
United removed Mossallam from service with pay in November 2023 while it investigated his conduct.
He later returned to flying for United.
According to reporting this week, United had sought to fire Mossallam following the original controversy, but the pilots' union intervened. Two United pilots deadheading on a flight he was operating also reportedly gave up their first-class seats and remained in the cockpit throughout the flight because they did not trust him.
Mossallam continued flying Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft for United into 2026.
He has also continued posting strongly anti-Israel material on social media since the original controversy, including posts accusing Israel of seeking continued territorial expansion and crediting Palestinian "resistance" with preventing it.
Mossallam serves on the board of the New York chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, where he is listed as board vice president.
The case came under renewed scrutiny following the attempted hijacking of Flydubai Flight FZ1073 last week, when the co-pilot attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the Dubai to Tel Aviv flight.
United was subsequently asked about Mossallam's continued employment.
On October 6, the airline said: "We have withheld this pilot from service pending an ongoing review."
United has not publicly detailed the findings of its original investigation or said what action may follow the current review.
Topics: Gaza
Reported by Bernard Moerdler for Bernie News Network. See our editorial standards and corrections policy.