US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will be “hit very hard” if it is found to have had a hand in the attack by a co-pilot on a flydubai flight bound for Israel.
On Wednesday, passengers helped prevent the aircraft from crashing, and it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The mostly Israeli passengers were later flown home to a hero’s welcome.
Speaking to reporters at the White House on Thursday, Trump was asked whether Iran was involved in the incident on the Dubai-to-Tel Aviv flight. “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes but we’re working on it right now,” he said.
Asked if the US would retaliate should Iran be found responsible, he replied that the country would be “hit very hard.”
His remarks came amid a wider US military buildup in the Middle East. Axios reported that Washington recently deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to shield key energy facilities from possible Iranian retaliation. It also reported that the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group is heading to the region, where it could join two other US carrier groups already there.
UAE opens probe
The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation into whether the incident was linked to terrorism. Its chief prosecutor said investigators would examine whether there was “terrorist activity or intent.”
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the UAE would lead the investigation, with Israel taking part. He told Fox News the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” without giving details.
Netanyahu said the attacker shouted “Kill me, kill me” to the crew, adding that it was “clear he was suicidal.” In an earlier interview with CBS News, he had not ruled out mental health as a factor.
He identified the co-pilot as an Omani national and said Israel would investigate how he was cleared to work flights to the country, since Israel bars pilots from nations with which it has no diplomatic relations.
Saudi Arabia said the co-pilot was transferred to the UAE on Thursday with an Emirati security team. Its preliminary investigation showed he attacked the aircraft’s captain, triggering a struggle for control of the plane before the emergency landing.
Captain, passengers hailed as heroes
Netanyahu praised the captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, for “extraordinary bravery.” Machchhar was allegedly stabbed by the co-pilot. The Indian ambassador to the UAE visited him, and the embassy said he was in good health and recovering well. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi called him a “HERO.”
Passengers described rushing the cockpit and fighting for control after the plane suddenly dropped. According to Flightradar24, it lost about 17,000 feet in a minute.
Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said the plane was “pretty much out of control” as the incident unfolded over Jordan. “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,” she told reporters.
Flydubai said another on-duty crew member travelling on the flight landed the aircraft safely. The airline has suspended flights to Israel while the investigation continues.
Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would honour five Israelis who helped overpower the co-pilot and prevent the crash.
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