United States prosecutors have alleged that a Saudi national accused of installing a listening device at OpenAI booked a one-way flight to his home country shortly before his arrest.

Abdulrahman Alfozan, a former OpenAI engineer, was scheduled to depart for Saudi Arabia on October 12 with his wife and another family member, according to a court filing unsealed on Wednesday. His arrest on October 9 by the FBI followed a report by OpenAI personnel about the discovery of a hidden device in a conference room at the company's San Francisco headquarters.

Prosecutors disclosed Alfozan's alleged flight booking to a judge on October 8 in a motion to seal the criminal complaint. They argued that Alfozan possessed both the "means – and will have an incentive – to flee" the United States. Alfozan, 35, faces charges of "using or endeavoring to use an electronic, mechanical, or other device to intercept oral communications," an offense punishable by up to five years in prison and a $250,000 fine.

The allegations against Alfozan highlight growing concerns about the vulnerability of leading technology firms, particularly those at the forefront of artificial intelligence development, to corporate espionage amid intense global competition.

Alfozan's lawyer, William Pernik, stated that he and his client intend to contest the criminal allegations and the decision to detain him. Pernik expressed confidence in the American justice system and urged fair treatment for his client, who he described as a "well regarded professional with long standing ties to the community." He also pushed back against any implications of untrustworthiness based on Alfozan's national origin, calling such suggestions reminiscent of "dark chapters of our nation’s history."

Before joining OpenAI approximately 15 months ago, Alfozan held positions as a systems engineer at Meta and completed an internship at Microsoft, according to a LinkedIn profile. He is also listed as a venture partner at Raed Ventures, a venture capital firm based in Riyadh. This firm's partners include Prince Khalid bin Bandar bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz Al Saud, a member of the Saudi royal family.

An announcement from Raed Ventures in February 2025 described Alfozan as a "seasoned professional." The circumstances of his arrest and the alleged motive for his planned departure raise questions about the security measures at advanced technology companies and the potential for insider threats in the competitive AI landscape.

The US Department of Justice has not released further details regarding the investigation or the specific nature of the alleged intercepted communications. The case is expected to proceed through the US legal system, with Alfozan's defense team committed to challenging the charges and his detention.