United States President, Donald Trump, on Thursday warned that Iran would face a “very hard” response if investigators establish that Tehran was connected to an incident in which the copilot of an Israel-bound flight allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft carrying more than 180 people.
The warning came as investigators examined the circumstances surrounding the incident involving a FlyDubai aircraft.
The copilot reportedly stabbed the captain, sending the Boeing 737 Max 8 into a steep descent before passengers and crew members intervened and the plane was eventually landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Asked by reporters at the White House whether he had received information linking the suspect to Iran, Trump said, “We’re working on it right now.”
“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump said. He provided no further explanation for his suggestion that Iran could be connected to the incident.
When asked whether Washington would retaliate against Tehran if Iran were found to be responsible, Trump replied, “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry.”
“You just ask them,” he added. “They know what happened. They’ll be hit very hard.”
Trump’s comments came as diplomatic efforts aimed at bringing an end to the war appeared to face renewed difficulties.
Iranian officials said Wednesday that Tehran had received an official US response to its latest proposal for ending the seven-month conflict. Trump had publicly rejected the proposal only days earlier. The officials did not disclose the contents of Washington’s response or say whether it amounted to a rejection.
In an interview with Time magazine published Thursday, Trump said he would not accept Iranian proposals that “he wouldn’t have approved a year ago,” while also leaving open the possibility of renewed US bombing after the November 3 election.
At the same time, the United States has moved additional military resources toward the Middle East. A US official said Thursday that about 9,000 American troops had been deployed aboard a group of ships. According to the official, the deployment could result in three aircraft carriers being in the region by late October. The official spoke to The Associated Press on condition of anonymity because the matter involved sensitive military operations.
Despite Trump’s public rejection of the Iranian proposal, mediators have continued efforts involving Tehran and Washington to reach an agreement that could halt the fighting and allow the Strait of Hormuz to reopen, according to officials who spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to comment publicly.
The aircraft was carrying 182 people, most of them Israelis, on a flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv. Passengers described how the injured Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing people inside to confront the copilot. They said they then restrained him and helped stabilise the aircraft during an extremely steep descent that resulted in damage to the plane’s rudder.
“We felt helpless, suspended in midair, and I didn’t know who to turn to. But it was all instinct to survive,” Asaf Rajuan, one of the passengers who intervened, said in a statement released by Israel’s presidency.
A regional official familiar with the investigation said the suspect, who is an Omani national, had been arrested. The official said Saudi authorities were coordinating with several countries, including Israel, as investigators sought to establish a motive. The UAE, United States and Oman were also involved, the official said. Saudi Arabia later said the suspect had been transferred to the UAE.
“All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being looked into. Nothing is ruled out for now,” the official said, speaking anonymously because the person was not authorised to discuss the ongoing investigation.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed, without providing details, that the suspect had undergone Islamist indoctrination. When asked by Fox News’ “Fox and Friends” who had allegedly radicalised the man, Netanyahu said he did not know.
Netanyahu’s office declined to comment when The Associated Press asked how the prime minister had determined that the suspect had undergone indoctrination.
Netanyahu also told Fox News that the suspect appeared to have exploited a loophole in Israeli aviation regulations. Under normal rules, pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel, including Oman, are barred from flying to the country.
The identity of the copilot has not been publicly released. Video recorded inside the aircraft by Dr. Shota Musayev, a dentist who treated the captain, showed the suspect kneeling with his hands restrained behind his back.
Capt. Smit Machchhar, who has been widely praised for his role during the emergency, was recovering in Abu Dhabi, the Indian government said Thursday.
Authorities have not disclosed what weapon the copilot allegedly used during the attack.
Israeli intelligence and security personnel travelled to Saudi Arabia to assist with the investigation, according to another regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because the official was not authorised to speak publicly.
Israel has asked for the suspect to be transferred to the country as part of its investigation, although it remained unclear whether Saudi or Emirati authorities would approve the request.
Saudi Arabia and Israel do not maintain formal diplomatic relations, but the two countries have cooperated on security and intelligence matters through unofficial channels.
The UAE government said its investigators had launched their own inquiry into the incident, including “whether it was linked to any terrorist purpose.” Emirati authorities said they have jurisdiction because the aircraft is registered in the UAE and its laws apply to offences committed aboard the plane.
Asked whether there was evidence of Iranian involvement, Netanyahu told Fox News it was “too early to say.”
Netanyahu previously said he had spoken with UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, who agreed that Israeli representatives should participate in questioning the suspect.
Trump said Wednesday that he had discussed the incident “at length” with Netanyahu by telephone. Trump said the copilot appeared to be “perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job.”
Oman’s government has not publicly commented on the incident.
Netanyahu had issued warnings in recent days about increased security risks, although he told CNN that Israel had not received a specific warning about an impending attack. The incident occurred shortly before the anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza, and comes weeks before an Israeli election.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said most passengers aboard the flight were Israeli citizens, while others were from India and the UAE. The US State Department said four passengers held American citizenship.
Netanyahu had warned in recent days about increased security risks, although he told CNN that Israel had not received a specific warning about an impending attack. The incident occurred shortly before the anniversary of the Hamas-led October 7, 2023, attack on Israel, which triggered the war in Gaza, and comes weeks before an Israeli election.
Israel’s Foreign Ministry said most passengers aboard the flight were Israeli citizens, while others were from India and the UAE. The US State Department said four passengers held American citizenship.
The codes are used by pilots when speaking over the radio is impossible or unsafe.
FlyDubai said Wednesday that the aircraft had been secured by on-duty crew members “who diverted and landed the aircraft safely.” A regional official said those crew members were pilots undergoing training. The official spoke anonymously because they were not authorised to speak to the media.
The emergency unfolded roughly two and a half hours after departure. According to Flightradar24, the Boeing 737 Max 8 dropped from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in approximately one minute before making an erratic turn near the Jordanian border and eventually landing in Tabuk.
