US President Donald Trump has threatened a severe response against Iran if investigators establish its involvement in an alleged attempt to seize control of a flydubai aircraft travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Trump issued the warning at the White House on Thursday as the United Arab Emirates investigated the incident, which forced the aircraft to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia a day earlier.
The co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft, triggering a dangerous descent and a struggle in the cockpit.
Asked whether Iran was involved, Trump said information reaching him pointed in that direction, but said inquiries were continuing.
He warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if its responsibility was established.
Saudi authorities said preliminary inquiries indicated that the co-pilot attacked the captain before the aircraft landed in the kingdom.
The suspect was subsequently handed over to the UAE, accompanied by an Emirati security team. Passengers were later taken to Israel on another flight.
The UAE chief prosecutor said investigators would determine whether the incident involved terrorism or terrorist intent.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu described it as an attempted terrorist attack and alleged that the suspect had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination, without providing supporting details.
Netanyahu identified the co-pilot as an Omani national and said Israel would participate in the UAE-led investigation.
He also said Israeli authorities would examine how the suspect was cleared to operate flights to Israel despite restrictions involving nationals of countries without diplomatic relations with Israel.
Passengers described a sudden loss of altitude during the struggle. Flight-tracking information cited in the report indicated that the aircraft descended about 17,000 feet within a minute.
Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said people rushed towards the cockpit and helped overpower the co-pilot after the alleged assault on the captain.
Flydubai said another crew member on the aircraft helped land it safely. The airline suspended flights to Israel pending the investigation.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE said the captain, Indian national Smit Machchhar, was recovering well.
Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised his actions, while Israeli President Isaac Herzog announced plans to honour five Israeli passengers who helped subdue the suspect.
Meanwhile, Axios reported additional US military deployments to the Middle East, including Patriot missile systems in Saudi Arabia and Qatar and the movement of the USS Theodore Roosevelt carrier strike group towards the region.
