Donald Trump, the United States president, warned Iran on Thursday that it would face severe consequences if linked to an attack on a flydubai flight. He spoke to reporters at the White House about the incident.
The co-pilot of flydubai Flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv allegedly assaulted the captain during the journey. Passengers and crew members then intervened and helped secure the aircraft. The plane made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
Trump addressed questions about possible Iranian involvement. “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes but we’re working on it right now,” he said. He added that authorities were examining the matter closely.
Furthermore, reporters asked about a potential United States response if Iran proved responsible. Trump replied, “Oh, they’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry.” He repeated that Iran would face a strong reaction and stated that Tehran already understood the situation.
Meanwhile, Benjamin Netanyahu, the Israeli prime minister, described the co-pilot as having undergone Islamist radical indoctrination. Saudi officials confirmed their initial findings showed the co-pilot had attacked the captain. They later transferred the suspect to the United Arab Emirates with an Emirati security team.
The United Arab Emirates opened an investigation into whether the incident involved terrorism. Flydubai suspended flights to and from Israel while the probe continued. The captain, identified as Smit Machchhar from India, received treatment after the assault.
Trump’s comments came amid ongoing regional tensions. Investigators from several countries continued to examine the motive and any possible external links. No final determination on Iranian involvement had been announced at the time of the president’s remarks.
