Trump said he believed there could be an Iranian connection, but he did not provide evidence or explain the basis for his assessment.

Asked by reporters whether the co-pilot was linked to Iran, Trump said, “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now.”

When asked whether the United States would retaliate if Iran were found responsible, Trump said Iran would be hit “very hard.”

The comments came while investigators were still trying to establish why the Omani co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and caused the aircraft to enter a steep descent before passengers and crew intervened.

Trump raises Iran connection without presenting evidence

Trump’s comments went beyond the public position expressed by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.

Netanyahu said there was not yet enough information to determine whether Iran was involved. Reuters reported that two Israeli security officials said Israel had not identified Iranian involvement at that stage.

Trump was asked whether the co-pilot could have been placed on the flight by Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps or radicalized through another channel.

“Could’ve been, yeah,” Trump replied, according to CBS News.

Trump did not identify an intelligence assessment, investigative finding or other evidence supporting the possible Iranian connection.

His remarks therefore represent a presidential assertion about a possibility under investigation, rather than a publicly established finding that Iran directed or supported the attack.

Investigation has not established a motive

The alleged attack occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 as it traveled from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The co-pilot allegedly stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar, causing the aircraft to descend sharply. Machchhar was able to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and help subdue the attacker.

A reserve crew subsequently took control of the aircraft and landed it safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. More than 170 people were aboard.

The suspect, identified by Israeli authorities as an Omani national, was taken into custody.

Saudi, Emirati and Israeli authorities are involved in the investigation. The UAE has said investigators are examining whether the incident involved terrorist activity, prior planning or outside direction.

No final determination about the suspect’s motive has been publicly announced.

Netanyahu cites radicalization but stops short of blaming Iran

Netanyahu said Thursday that Israeli authorities had information indicating that the co-pilot had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.

He said the assessment was based on information from the suspect’s personal background, but he did not publicly provide details supporting the claim. Reuters reported that Netanyahu also described the attacker as apparently suicidal and said the investigation had not reached final conclusions.

When asked specifically about Iran, however, Netanyahu said it was too early to say whether Tehran was involved.

That leaves two separate questions in the investigation: what motivated the co-pilot and whether anyone outside the aircraft directed, assisted or influenced the attack.

Neither question has been conclusively answered.

U.S. warning comes as military tensions remain high

Trump’s warning comes amid an already heightened U.S.-Iran confrontation.

The United States is simultaneously moving approximately 9,000 additional sailors and Marines toward the Middle East, a deployment that could result in three U.S. aircraft carriers operating in the region by late October. Trump has also left open the possibility of renewed U.S. bombing of Iran after the Nov. 3 U.S. election.

The military deployment and the Flydubai investigation are separate developments.

There is currently no publicly established evidence linking the movement of U.S. forces to the Flydubai incident.

A confirmed finding of Iranian involvement in an attack on an Israel-bound civilian aircraft could nevertheless significantly affect the already tense relationship between Washington and Tehran.

Attack investigation continues across several countries

The investigation spans several jurisdictions because the aircraft was operated by Flydubai, registered in the United Arab Emirates, traveling from Dubai to Israel and diverted to Saudi Arabia.

Saudi authorities conducted an initial investigation after the emergency landing in Tabuk. The UAE has also opened its own investigation, while Israeli security officials are seeking to participate in questioning the suspect.

The suspect was subsequently transferred to the UAE, according to Reuters.

Authorities are examining the circumstances of the cockpit attack, the suspect’s background and whether he acted alone.

The aircraft attack itself is established; Iranian involvement is not

The confirmed sequence is that a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain during Flight FZ1073, the aircraft experienced a severe descent, passengers entered the cockpit and subdued the attacker, and a reserve crew landed the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia.

The captain survived and was receiving medical treatment.

What remains unresolved is the motive for the attack and whether anyone outside the aircraft was involved.

Trump has now publicly raised Iran as a possible connection and threatened a severe U.S. response if that connection is established.

But as of Thursday, Iranian responsibility had not been established by the investigation, and Trump had not announced that the United States had ordered military action against Iran over the incident.

Reporting Credit: White House; U.S. Department of Defense; UAE government and investigative authorities; Saudi authorities; Israeli government and security authorities; Flydubai.

The post Trump Threatens Iran With Retaliation if Linked to Flydubai Attack appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.

Machchhar, an Indian national and the aircraft’s captain, was seriously injured after his co-pilot allegedly attacked him inside the cockpit.

Despite his injuries, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door. That allowed passengers to enter the flight deck and confront the attacker while other crew members worked to regain control of the Boeing 737.

The aircraft was ultimately diverted to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

Captain opens the cockpit door

The attack occurred while Flight FZ1073 was traveling from Dubai toward Tel Aviv.

According to accounts from passengers and Israeli officials, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar while the aircraft was in flight. The plane then began losing altitude rapidly.

Machchhar was wounded but managed to unlock the cockpit door.

That action gave passengers access to the flight deck at a critical moment and allowed them to intervene against the attacker.

The aircraft reportedly lost about 14,000 feet in less than 30 seconds. The severity of the descent added urgency to the passengers’ efforts to regain control.

Four passengers enter the cockpit

Four passengers have been identified in reporting as playing significant roles in the response: Yaniv Hayun, Zvika Manes, Assaf Rajuan and Dr. Shota Musaev.

Their actions were different, but each became involved as the situation inside the cockpit unfolded.

Hayun, a plumber, was among the passengers who entered the cockpit. He said he grabbed the attacker and pulled him away from the controls.

He also briefly took hold of the aircraft’s controls while the plane was descending, helping pull the nose upward until trained pilots could take over.

Hayun helps pull attacker away

Hayun told Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu that Machchhar was close to the cockpit door but was injured and unable to open it immediately.

Once the door opened, Hayun entered the cockpit and saw the attacker near the aircraft’s controls.

He said he grabbed the attacker and pulled him away from the flight deck.

Hayun also described taking hold of the controls while the aircraft was pointed downward. Other crew members subsequently took over control of the aircraft.

Netanyahu later praised Hayun publicly for his actions.

Rajuan and Manes join the response

Assaf Rajuan and Zvika Manes were also among the passengers who entered the cockpit and helped confront the attacker.

Israeli authorities and subsequent reporting have credited the group of passengers with helping restrain the co-pilot and prevent further interference with the aircraft.

Rajuan later described the experience as an instinctive response to an unfolding emergency.

The passengers were not acting as trained flight crew. Their intervention bought time for pilots who were aboard the aircraft to assume control.

Dentist treats the wounded captain

Dr. Shota Musaev, a dentist traveling as a passenger, helped treat Machchhar after entering the cockpit.

Musaev described finding the captain badly injured and bleeding heavily.

He provided medical assistance while other passengers and crew members worked to restrain the attacker and restore control of the aircraft.

Musaev later said Machchhar appeared to have lost a significant amount of blood and that the situation was critical.

Relief pilots help land the aircraft

The passengers’ intervention did not end the emergency.

Once the attacker was subdued, other Flydubai pilots who were traveling aboard the aircraft were able to take over the flight deck.

Flydubai said the aircraft was secured by its on-duty crew, which diverted the plane and landed it safely at Tabuk Airport.

The presence of additional qualified pilots aboard the aircraft became an important part of the response because the captain had been seriously injured and the co-pilot was no longer in a position to operate the aircraft.

Aircraft lands safely in Saudi Arabia

The aircraft diverted to Tabuk in northwestern Saudi Arabia after the emergency.

The passengers and crew were later transported onward to Israel aboard another aircraft.

The incident triggered a major security response, with Israeli authorities preparing for the possibility of a hijacking while the aircraft was still airborne.

No passenger deaths were reported.

Machchhar was taken to a hospital after the landing. India’s embassy said he was in stable condition, and India’s Ministry of External Affairs later said he was transferred to Abu Dhabi for continued treatment.

Investigation into the cockpit attack

The alleged attacker has been identified as an Omani national.

The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation into the incident, including whether it involved terrorist activity, intent or prior planning.

Saudi Arabia and Israel are also involved in the broader investigation.

The motive has not been conclusively established. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has made claims about the co-pilot’s alleged radicalization and intentions, but those claims remain part of an ongoing investigation rather than established judicial findings.

A chain of actions prevented a larger disaster

The incident was not resolved by a single intervention.

Machchhar’s ability to open the cockpit door gave passengers access to the flight deck. Hayun, Manes, Rajuan and Musaev then became involved in different ways, including restraining the attacker, assisting with the aircraft’s controls and treating the injured captain.

Trained pilots traveling aboard the aircraft subsequently took control and diverted the plane to Tabuk.

Flydubai said all passengers and crew were safe and accounted for after the landing.

The sequence illustrates how several separate actions combined during a rapidly developing emergency: the wounded captain opened access to the cockpit, passengers intervened, medical assistance was provided, and qualified crew members ultimately brought the aircraft to safety.

Reporting Credit: Flydubai; United Arab Emirates Ministry of Interior and prosecutorial authorities; Israeli government and security authorities; Indian Ministry of External Affairs.

The post Indian Pilot and Four Passengers Help Avert Disaster on Flydubai Flight appeared first on Journos News - Breaking News, World News, Top Stories, Todays Headlines and Flash Reports.