US President Donald Trump issued a stern warning to Iran on Thursday, stating that it would be "hit very hard" if found to be linked to a pilot's attack on a flydubai flight to Israel. The incident occurred on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the plane. Trump's warning came as the United Arab Emirates opened an investigation into whether the incident was linked to terrorism.
The dramatic events on the flight saw passengers help stop the plane from crashing, with many describing a struggle for control of the aircraft. The plane lost around 17,000 feet of altitude in just one minute, according to Flightradar24. Passengers rushed the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot, who was later transferred to the UAE accompanied by an Emirati security team. The UAE chief prosecutor said investigators would explore whether there had been "terrorist activity or intent".
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect had undergone "Islamist radical indoctrination" and identified the co-pilot as an Omani national. Netanyahu credited the captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and passengers with averting catastrophe. He praised Machchhar "for his extraordinary bravery" and said Israel would participate in the investigation alongside the UAE. The incident has been described as "an attempted terrorist attack" by Israeli officials.
The US military has been bolstering its presence in the region, with Axios reporting that additional Patriot missile batteries had been deployed to Saudi Arabia and Qatar. The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group were also heading to the Middle East, where they could join two other US carrier strike groups already in the region. Trump's threat coincided with these developments, which are aimed at protecting key energy facilities from possible Iranian retaliation.
The co-pilot's motivations are still unclear, with Netanyahu not ruling out the possibility that mental health issues may have played a role. However, Netanyahu said the attacker had called out to the aircrew, "Kill me, kill me", suggesting suicidal intentions. The incident has raised concerns about aviation security and the potential for terrorist attacks on flights to Israel.
The Indian ambassador to the UAE visited the wounded captain, who was reported to be in "good health and recovering well". Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Machchhar as a "HERO", saying his actions had helped save lives. Flydubai suspended flights to Israel while the investigation continues, and Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would honour five Israelis who helped overpower the co-pilot and prevent the plane from crashing.
The investigation into the incident is being led by the UAE, with Israel participating. Netanyahu said Israel would check how the co-pilot had been cleared to work on flights to the country, given the constraints on hiring pilots from countries without diplomatic relations with Israel. The incident has sparked an international response, with many countries condemning the attack and offering support to the passengers and crew.
Key points
- US President Donald Trump warns Iran of severe consequences if linked to flydubai attack.
- The incident has been described as "an attempted terrorist attack" by Israeli officials.
- The US military has bolstered its presence in the region, deploying additional Patriot missile batteries and an aircraft carrier.
