United Airlines Pilot Who Praised October 7 Suspended Again After Colleagues Lost Trust
United Airlines has suspended pilot Ibrahim Mossallam pending a review, years after colleagues reportedly gave up first-class seats to monitor him in the cockpit.
By The Aviation Hub
4 min read
United Airlines has confirmed that it has suspended a United Airlines pilot, Ibrahim Mossallam, pending an ongoing review. The move follows renewed reporting that Mossallam, who praised the Hamas attack of 7 October 2023 on social media, had returned to flying Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft after only a brief removal from service nearly three years ago.
United told View from the Wing: "We have withheld this pilot from service pending an ongoing review." That statement is the airline's only public comment on the matter at the time of writing.
What Ibrahim Mossallam Posted
In a Facebook post that circulated widely from 20 November 2023, Mossallam described the Hamas-led attack as "resistance by a brave people" and said it was "not unprovoked." He also criticised US media coverage of Israel and urged readers to conduct their own research.
As Aviation A2Z notes, the remarks drew public criticism because they appeared to characterise the attack itself as legitimate resistance, going beyond disagreement with Israeli government policy. That distinction became central to questions about whether the statements were relevant to United's standards for pilot conduct and judgment.
United confirmed on 20 November 2023 that Mossallam had been "removed from service, with pay, while we look into this matter." The airline did not publicly disclose the scope or conclusions of that review.
The United Airlines Pilot's Return to Flying
According to View from the Wing, a June 2025 federal court order in Ruben Sanchez v. United Airlines, Inc. et al. records flight attendant Ruben Sanchez's allegation that Mossallam returned to flying after approximately one month. The court order summarises Sanchez's allegation; it does not independently establish the outcome of United's internal investigation.
Aviation A2Z reports that DansDeals confirmed on 28 May 2025 that United continued to employ Mossallam, and on 5 October 2026 reported that he continued to fly Boeing 757 and 767 aircraft. DansDeals also said it had contacted United on 30 September 2026 about his continued employment and received no response.
What remains unavailable publicly is a detailed account of the review that preceded his return to the cockpit.
Colleagues Who Gave Up First-Class Seats
The most striking detail to emerge comes from reporter Libby Blanca, cited by View from the Wing. According to sources familiar with the incident, two United pilots who were deadheading on a flight operated by Mossallam gave up their first-class seats and spent the entire flight in the cockpit because they did not trust him and wanted to keep a close eye on him throughout.
The two crew members were travelling to a duty assignment. View from the Wing notes that United's pilots' union negotiated first-class travel for work trips as a concession during the pandemic, making those seats a meaningful benefit to surrender.
The same sources say that United wanted to terminate Mossallam's employment but that the pilots' union blocked the move.
The Union's Role
View from the Wing argues that if the union successfully opposed the dismissal, it should explain the basis for its position. The union has not issued a public statement on the matter according to any of the sources available to us.
United itself did not respond to DansDeals when contacted on 30 September 2026, according to Aviation A2Z. The airline's latest statement confirming the new suspension is the first public update from the carrier in nearly three years.
The Broader Context
The story has resurfaced alongside scrutiny of the flydubai Flight FZ1073 incident on 30 September 2026, in which an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. Aviation A2Z is careful to note that the two cases are not linked, but the flydubai incident has sharpened wider questions about pilot screening and the response to warning signs. You can follow developing coverage of aviation incidents and emergencies through our Squawk 7700 hub.
Aviation A2Z also notes that Mossallam holds a Board Vice-President position at CAIR New York, which lists him publicly as a professional international airline pilot. The outlet states that this role does not establish anything about his fitness as an airline pilot but helps explain why his public statements have attracted attention beyond aviation circles.
For more on United Airlines and its fleet, you can use our Airline Search to explore routes and operations.
The Bottom Line
United's confirmation that Mossallam has been withheld from service pending a review is the first clear public action the airline has announced since November 2023. The reported behaviour of his colleagues, giving up first-class seats to monitor a fellow pilot in the cockpit, is an unusually visible sign of how far trust had eroded within the airline's own ranks.
The central question, what review United conducted before allowing Mossallam to return to flying in late 2023 and what it concluded, remains unanswered publicly. We will update our coverage if United or any investigating authority releases further information.
Continue to follow The Aviation Hub for more analysis and insight.
Advertise with us Your brand, in front of an aviation audience Home page and in-article placements, sold directly, one advertiser per slot. From £250 a year. See the rates
