President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will face severe consequences if it is found to be behind the cockpit attack on a flydubai flight bound for Tel Aviv. Speaking at the White House on Thursday, Trump said that based on current intelligence, Iranian involvement seemed likely, and that the United States would respond forcefully.
“I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes but we're working on it right now,” Trump told reporters. When asked about potential retaliation, he stated: “Oh, they'll be hit very hard, don't worry.”
The incident occurred on Wednesday when the co-pilot, an Omani national, allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The plane, a Boeing 737 operated by Dubai-based flydubai, was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv when it suddenly lost about 17,000 feet of altitude in under a minute, according to Flightradar24 data. Passengers rushed the cockpit and helped subdue the attacker, allowing the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Regional tensions and military buildup
Trump's threat coincides with a broader US military buildup in the region. Axios reported that Washington has deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect key energy infrastructure from potential Iranian retaliation. The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group are also heading to the Middle East, joining two other carrier groups already deployed.
The UAE and Saudi Arabia have launched investigations into the attack. Saudi authorities said the co-pilot was transferred to the UAE on Thursday under escort, and their preliminary findings indicate he attacked the aircraft's captain. The UAE's chief prosecutor has said investigators will examine whether there was “terrorist activity or intent.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News that the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination” and described the attack as “clear he was suicidal.” He also noted that the co-pilot was an Omani national and questioned how he had been cleared to work on flights to Israel, given that Oman does not have diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.
Netanyahu praised the captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, for his “extraordinary bravery” in preventing a catastrophe. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a “HERO” for his actions. The Indian ambassador to the UAE visited the captain in hospital, where he is reported to be in good health and recovering well.
Passengers described the chaos on board. Miryam Shira Ohayon said the aircraft was “pretty much out of control” as it descended over Jordan. “The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane,” she told reporters. “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.”
Flydubai confirmed that another off-duty crew member on board managed to land the plane safely. The airline has suspended flights to Israel while the investigation continues. Israeli officials have called the incident an attempted terrorist attack, though Netanyahu earlier did not rule out mental health issues as a factor.
The attack has heightened concerns about aviation security and the potential for Iranian-backed violence. The US military buildup underscores the seriousness of the situation, as Washington prepares for possible Iranian retaliation. The investigation will be led by the UAE, with Israeli participation, according to Netanyahu.
For more on the incident, see the emergency landing details and passenger video from the flight. The broader context of US-Iran tensions is also relevant, as seen in recent diplomatic moves.
