Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' if linked to flydubai attack

US President Donald Trump warned Thursday that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it is found to have been involved in an alleged attack by a co-pilot on a flydubai flight bound for Israel.

The warning came a day after passengers helped prevent the plane from crashing and it made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The flight’s mostly Israeli passengers were later flown back to Israel.

The United Arab Emirates has opened an investigation into whether the incident was linked to terrorism, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”.

“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether Iran was involved in the incident aboard the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Asked whether the United States would retaliate if Iran were found responsible, Trump said: “Oh, they’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry.”

Trump’s warning came as the United States was reportedly strengthening its military presence in the region.

Axios reported that Washington had recently deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to help protect key energy facilities against possible Iranian retaliation.

The report also said the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group were heading to the Middle East, potentially joining two other US carrier strike groups already in the region.

Investigation into cockpit attack

As investigators examined the possible motive, the UAE and Saudi Arabia began piecing together what happened aboard the aircraft.

Saudi Arabia said the co-pilot was transferred to the UAE on Thursday accompanied by an “Emirati security team”. Its initial investigation indicated that he had attacked the aircraft’s captain.

The alleged assault triggered a struggle for control of the plane before the emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Passengers were later flown to Israel on a replacement flight.

Netanyahu said the UAE would lead the investigation, with Israel participating.

“We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu told Fox News’ “Fox & Friends”, without providing further details.

He said the suspect had shouted, “Kill me, kill me,” and described him as apparently suicidal.

The UAE’s chief prosecutor said investigators would examine whether the incident involved “terrorist activity or intent”.

Netanyahu identified the co-pilot as an Omani national and said Israel would examine how he had been cleared to operate flights to the country.

Passengers rush cockpit

Netanyahu earlier credited captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and passengers with preventing a disaster after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed him and attempted to crash the aircraft.

Passengers said they rushed towards the cockpit after the plane suddenly plunged. According to Flightradar24, the aircraft lost about 17,000 feet in altitude within a minute.

Israeli officials have described the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack”. Netanyahu had earlier said he had not ruled out the possibility that the co-pilot’s actions were linked to mental health problems.

“During the flight, as they approached the country, one of the pilots stabbed the other pilot, and apparently tried to crash the plane with everyone on board,” Netanyahu said in an earlier video message.

Captain hailed as ‘hero’

Netanyahu later praised Machchhar for his “extraordinary bravery”.

The Indian ambassador to the UAE visited the injured captain, with the embassy saying he was in “good health and recovering well”.

Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi described Machchhar as a “HERO”, saying his actions helped save lives.

Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said the aircraft was “pretty much out of control” as the incident unfolded over Jordan.

“The co-pilot tried to murder the pilot and basically carry out a suicide attack on the plane,” she told reporters.

“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.”

Flydubai said another “on-duty flydubai crew travelling on the flight ... landed the aircraft safely”. The airline also suspended flights to Israel while the investigation continues.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would honour five Israeli passengers who helped overpower the co-pilot and prevent the aircraft from crashing.