OpenAI engineer booked one-way Saudi flight before arrest

Federal prosecutors moved on Oct. 8 to seal criminal charging documents against OpenAI engineer Abdulrahman Alfozan after learning he, his wife and a third family member had booked one‑way flights from San Francisco to Saudi Arabia via Istanbul for Oct. 12. The motion argued disclosure could jeopardize arrest because Alfozan “has the means - and will have an incentive - to flee the United States” if alerted. A magistrate granted the request, authorizing sharing the sealed complaint, arrest warrant and related materials with law enforcement and intelligence partners and directing that the warrant be unsealed once executed.

Alfozan, a 35‑year‑old Saudi national, was arrested by the FBI three days before the planned departure and the complaint was unsealed after he was in custody. He is charged with using or attempting to use a device to intercept oral communications, tied to an allegation that he hid a recording device in an OpenAI executive conference room; the offense carries up to five years in prison. At his initial appearance he was remanded to custody, a detention hearing was set, and the Speedy Trial Act clock was tolled. Defense counsel called the allegations out of character. Prosecutors certified OpenAI OpCo LLC as the victim and noted Microsoft holds a 10%+ financial interest in the parent company; filings do not identify the third traveler or explain how the flight bookings were uncovered.