WASHINGTON, OCT 2 — United States President Donald Trump affirmed Thursday that Iran would face severe military retaliation if investigations link Tehran to an Omani copilot who attempted to crash a FlyDubai airliner bound for Israel.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump asserted that the Islamic Republic would be hit “very hard” if found responsible for the airborne assault, which imperiled the lives of 182 passengers and crew members before the aircraft safely landed in Saudi Arabia. Asked directly whether he had been briefed on potential Iranian ties to the incident, Trump stated that officials were actively working on the matter, noting that preliminary information suggested a connection.
The President maintained a stern posture regarding possible US military action, declaring that Tehran is well aware of the consequences should its involvement be established. His warnings coincided with reports that the US military has deployed approximately 9,000 troops aboard a naval group to the Middle East, potentially bringing three aircraft carrier strike groups into the region by late October.
The incident unfolded roughly two and a half hours into the flight from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, when the copilot stabbed the plane’s captain. Flight tracking data indicated the aircraft descended rapidly from 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in about a minute as discreet emergency and hijacking distress codes were transmitted from the cockpit.
Passengers, including Israeli citizens who assisted in stabilizing the jet, described how the bloodied Indian captain, Capt. Smit Machchhar, managed to unlock the cockpit door. Passengers and off-duty crew members then subdued the attacker, regaining control of the Boeing 737 Max 8 before a emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Captain Machchhar is currently recovering in Abu Dhabi.
Saudi authorities have since transferred the Omani suspect to the UAE, where official investigators are examining all potential motives, including terrorism and psychological instability. Intelligence and security personnel from Israel have also arrived in Saudi Arabia to participate in the joint probe alongside Emirati, American, and Omani officials.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu affirmed that it remains too early to definitively confirm Iranian involvement, while noting the suspect may have taken advantage of a loophole in Israeli aviation regulations regarding foreign flight crews. Mediators continue diplomatic efforts behind the scenes to address regional hostilities and maintain transit through the Strait of Hormuz, even as official peace proposals remain stalled.
