Media outlets across the Gulf offered sharply different coverage Thursday morning of the dramatic incident aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073, with newspapers in Oman remaining virtually silent while major outlets in the United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia prominently covered the ordeal and its aftermath.

The silence in Oman was particularly notable because the co-pilot accused of carrying out the attack is an Omani citizen.

Rather than report on the incident, Omani media focused heavily on the visit of UAE National Security Adviser Sheikh Tahnoun bin Zayed Al Nahyan and his meeting with Sultan Haitham bin Tariq.

The contrast was striking in the neighboring United Arab Emirates, where the incident involving the Flydubai flight and its Israeli passengers received prominent coverage.

English-language newspapers Khaleej Times and The National carried reports on the incident, while the Arabic-language Al Emarat Al Youm relied heavily on statements issued by Flydubai and focused on the replacement flight crew that assumed control and brought the ordeal to a safe conclusion.

Al Ittihad, meanwhile, prominently reported on a telephone conversation between UAE Foreign Minister Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed and Israeli Foreign Minister Gideon Sa’ar, during which the Emirati minister inquired about the condition and welfare of the passengers.

Saudi media focused largely on what occurred after the aircraft was diverted to Tabuk, emphasizing the humanitarian assistance provided to the Israeli passengers while they were on Saudi soil.

Asharq Al-Awsat reported that Tabuk airport provided assistance “in accordance with international conventions,” while noting that the full circumstances and motive behind the incident remained under investigation.

Saudi newspaper Al Riyadh reported the story under a headline announcing the conclusion of the incident involving Flight FZ1073 and the departure of the passengers for Israel. The newspaper cited Flydubai as saying that the complete circumstances and motives behind the incident had not yet been established and were the subject of an official investigation.

(YWN World Headquarters – NYC)