Trump warns Iran of severe retaliation over flydubai attack on Israel flight
Trump threatened Iran with serious consequences if linked to a co-pilot's attack on a flydubai flight to Israel. The UAE has opened a terrorism investigation.
Trump warns Iran over flydubai co-pilot attack on Tel Aviv-bound flight
US President Donald Trump has threatened that Iran will be "hit very hard" if it is found to have been connected to a co-pilot's attack on a flydubai aircraft bound for Tel Aviv, RTÉ News reports.
"I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes but we're working on it right now," Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether Iran was involved. Asked whether the United States would retaliate if Iran was found responsible, he replied: "Oh, they'll be hit very hard, don't worry."
His warning came as the United Arab Emirates opened a formal investigation into whether the incident constituted terrorism, and as Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination".
Co-pilot allegedly stabbed captain and tried to crash plane
The incident unfolded the previous day on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to Saudi Arabia, the co-pilot attacked the aircraft's captain mid-flight, triggering a struggle for control of the plane before an emergency landing was made in Saudi Arabia. Passengers were later flown to Israel on a replacement aircraft.
Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon told reporters the plane was "pretty much out of control" as the incident took place over Jordan. "The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane," she said. "It was really on the way to crashing, and it was simply the resourcefulness of many people who took control of the co-pilot and neutralised him."
Flight tracking data from Flightradar24 showed the aircraft lost approximately 17,000 feet of altitude within the span of a minute during the struggle.
Netanyahu identified the co-pilot as an Omani national and said the Israeli government would examine how he had been cleared to operate flights to the country. "We have constraints that say that you can't have pilots from countries that don't have diplomatic relations with Israel. Obviously he was able to go through that," Netanyahu told Fox News.
Hero captain praised by India and Israel
Netanyahu credited captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, with averting catastrophe alongside passengers who rushed the cockpit. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Machchhar as a "HERO", saying his actions had helped save lives. The Indian ambassador to the UAE visited the wounded captain, with the embassy reporting he was in "good health and recovering well".
Netanyahu said the suspect called out to the aircrew "Kill me, kill me," adding it was "clear he was suicidal". In an earlier interview with CBS News, Netanyahu had not ruled out mental health as a factor.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would honour five Israeli passengers who helped overpower the co-pilot. The mostly Israeli passengers were flown home to a hero's welcome following the emergency diversion.
Flydubai confirmed that another on-duty crew member travelling aboard the flight had landed the aircraft safely and announced the suspension of flights to Israel whilst the investigation continues.
US military buildup in the region
Trump's threat against Iran coincided with a broader US military posture shift in the region. Axios reported that Washington had recently deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to help protect key energy infrastructure against possible Iranian retaliation.
The US outlet also reported that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group were heading to the Middle East, where they could join two other US carrier strike groups already operating in the area.
The UAE chief prosecutor said investigators would examine whether there had been "terrorist activity or intent". Saudi Arabia confirmed the co-pilot had been transferred to UAE custody accompanied by an "Emirati security team". Netanyahu said the UAE would lead the investigation whilst Israel would participate.
Israeli officials have described the incident as "an attempted terrorist attack".
Source: RTÉ News