{
  "id": 13266629,
  "title": "United grounds pilot who praised October 7 massacre after reports of reinstatement - report",
  "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/10/united-grounds-pilot-who-praised-october-7-massacre-after-reports-of",
  "topic": "world",
  "section": "World",
  "published": "2026-10-10T00:22:10.000Z",
  "source": {
    "name": "Jerusalem Post",
    "slug": "jerusalem-post",
    "url": "https://www.jpost.com/international/article-911196"
  },
  "original_language": "en",
  "account": "United Airlines has suspended Capt. Ibrahim R. Mossallam from service once again, pending an ongoing review, after he expressed support for Hamas' October 7 massacre on social media, The Daily Wire reported. Mossallam was initially suspended with pay in November 2023, but Israeli media reported that United Airlines quietly reinstated him six months later without acknowledging the move. According to the airline, Mossallam has been withheld from service since late 2023, though The Daily Wire stated that United has not confirmed whether he has resumed flying. Senior United executives reportedly wanted to fire Mossallam, but the pilots union intervened, preventing his dismissal. In 2023, Mossallam praised Hamas' actions, calling them brave and unprovoked, and criticized the media for a biased portrayal of Palestine. This has led to some of his fellow pilots losing trust in him, with two deadheading passengers on a United flight reportedly switching to cockpit jump seats for safety. Other United employees have called for his dismissal following the recent flydubai hijacking.",
  "summary": "United Airlines confirmed it grounded a pilot who praised Hamas's October 7 massacre after reports revealed he had quietly returned to flying six months after his November 2023 suspension.",
  "key_points": [
    "United Airlines suspends pilot for praising Hamas October 7 massacre.",
    "Pilot initially suspended in November 2023, reportedly reinstated six months later.",
    "Mossallam's reinstatement disputed; union intervened to prevent firing."
  ],
  "editors_take": "United's resuspension of Capt. Mossallam indicates a U-turn on its earlier handling of the case, suggesting that public and possibly internal pressure has altered the airline's stance.",
  "illustration": null,
  "coverage": {
    "outlets": 2,
    "also_reported_by": [
      {
        "outlet": "National Post",
        "title": "What happened to Block Parents?; October 7 attacks praised in government-funded journal; and more",
        "url": "https://urgent.news/2026/10/09/what-happened-to-block-parents-october-7-attacks-praised-in",
        "published": "2026-10-09T21:25:47.000Z"
      }
    ]
  },
  "ai_generated": true,
  "disclaimer": "Summaries, key points and the editor’s take are written by software from other outlets’ reporting and may contain errors — always check the linked original."
}