Royal Air Maroc denies employing Flydubai co-pilot involved in incident

Saturday 03 - 11:55

Royal Air Maroc has denied reports suggesting that the co-pilot involved in a Flydubai flight incident had previously been employed by the Moroccan national carrier.

In a statement issued following media reports about the pilot’s professional background, Royal Air Maroc clarified that the individual had undergone a three-month theoretical training programme within the airline in 2025.

The training was conducted as part of a recruitment process and was intended to precede a possible appointment with Royal Air Maroc. However, the company said that the candidate was not ultimately selected for employment.

Training did not lead to employment

According to Royal Air Maroc, completing the theoretical training did not result in the individual joining the airline as a pilot or co-pilot. The company said his application was rejected at the end of the process.

The clarification comes after several media reports described the Flydubai co-pilot as having previously worked for Royal Air Maroc, a claim the Moroccan airline has explicitly rejected.

Royal Air Maroc’s statement therefore distinguishes between participation in an internal training programme and actual employment with the carrier.

Royal Air Maroc clarifies the pilot’s background

The airline’s clarification is aimed at correcting the professional history attributed to the co-pilot following the Flydubai incident. While the individual did receive theoretical training at Royal Air Maroc in 2025, the company maintains that he was never hired by the national carrier.

The distinction is particularly relevant in the aviation sector, where professional qualifications, training programmes and employment records are separate stages of a pilot’s career.

Royal Air Maroc said its clarification was issued in response to information circulating in the media and specifically concerned the claim that the co-pilot had previously been employed by the airline.