US President Donald Trump on Thursday suggested that Iran may have been linked to the co-pilot accused of trying to crash an Israel-bound Flydubai passenger jet, while warning that Tehran would face a “very hard” response if investigators established its involvement. Trump, however, did not provide evidence for a connection, and investigations into the co-pilot’s motive remained underway.
Asked by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about possible links between the co-pilot and Tehran, Trump said the matter was still being examined. “We’re working on it right now,” he said.
“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump added, without elaborating on what information had prompted his assessment.
Trump warns Tehran
Asked whether the United States would retaliate if Iran were found to have been behind the incident, Trump warned of a forceful response. “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry,” he said, before adding: “They know what happened. They’ll be hit very hard.”
The remarks marked a sharper public assessment from Washington even as authorities continued investigating what happened aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv. No evidence establishing Iranian involvement had been publicly presented as of Thursday, and Israeli officials had earlier said it was too soon to draw such a conclusion.
Motive still under investigation
The incident unfolded on Wednesday when the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain during the flight and attempted to crash the aircraft, according to Israeli officials. The aircraft, carrying more than 170 people, plunged sharply before the wounded captain managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to intervene.
Passengers subdued the co-pilot, while another pair of Flydubai pilots travelling aboard the aircraft took control and landed it safely at Tabuk in Saudi Arabia. The flight’s passengers subsequently reached Israel safely.
An Israeli official identified the accused co-pilot as an Omani national, although Omani authorities had not publicly commented on that account. The United Arab Emirates opened an investigation into the circumstances and motive, including whether the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning or external direction.
Netanyahu urges caution
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had taken a more cautious position on possible Iranian involvement. Asked earlier whether there were indications that Tehran was behind the incident, Netanyahu said it was “too early to say” and that investigators would examine whether the co-pilot had accomplices or links to Iran.
On Thursday, Netanyahu said Israeli authorities had information indicating that the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radicalisation but again stopped short of establishing a connection to Iran. He said he expected investigators to determine whether such links existed.
Flydubai has also cautioned against premature speculation while authorities investigate the incident. The airline suspended its services to and from Israel while the investigation continued.
Regional tensions deepen
Trump’s warning adds another potentially volatile element to already heightened tensions involving the United States, Israel and Iran. His remarks were conditional on investigators establishing Iranian responsibility, and no such finding had been announced by the investigating authorities as of Thursday.
The immediate focus therefore remains on determining the co-pilot’s motive, whether he acted alone and whether there was any external planning or direction. Until those investigations are completed, Trump’s suggestion of an Iranian connection remains an assessment voiced by the US President rather than an established finding.