US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if it is found to be linked to an incident in which a co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain of a flydubai flight bound for Israel.
The incident occurred a day earlier, when passengers reportedly intervened after the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The plane subsequently made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia before its mostly Israeli passengers were flown back to Israel.
Trump’s warning came as the United Arab Emirates launched an investigation into whether the incident was linked to terrorism, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu alleged that the suspect had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination.”
Asked at the White House whether Iran was involved in the incident aboard the flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, Trump said: “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now.”
Asked whether the United States would retaliate against Iran if it were found responsible, Trump replied: “Oh, they’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry.”
Trump’s comments came amid reports of increased US military activity 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 from potential Iranian retaliation.
The publication also reported that the USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group were heading towards the Middle East, where they could join two other US carrier strike groups already operating in the region.
As investigators worked to establish the circumstances surrounding the incident, Saudi Arabia said the co-pilot had been transferred to the UAE on Thursday accompanied by an “Emirati security team”.
The Saudi authorities said an initial investigation indicated that the co-pilot had attacked the aircraft’s captain, triggering a struggle for control of the plane before it made an emergency landing.
The passengers were later flown to Israel on a replacement flight.
‘Radical indoctrination’
Netanyahu told Fox News’ Fox & Friends that the co-pilot had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination”, although he did not provide details to support the claim.
“We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination,” Netanyahu said.
He also alleged that the attacker called out to the crew, “Kill me, kill me”, describing the incident as an apparent suicide attempt.
The UAE’s chief prosecutor said investigators would examine whether there had been any “terrorist activity or intent”.
Netanyahu said the UAE would lead the investigation, with Israel also participating.
He identified the co-pilot as an Omani national and said Israeli authorities would examine how he had been cleared to work on flights to Israel.
“We have constraints that say that you can’t have pilots from countries that don’t have diplomatic relations with Israel. Obviously, he was able to go through that,” Netanyahu told Fox News.
Netanyahu had earlier praised the aircraft’s captain, Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, and passengers for helping avert a potential disaster after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain and attempted to crash the aircraft.
Passengers said they rushed towards the cockpit and struggled to regain control of the aircraft after it suddenly descended by about 17,000 feet in one minute, according to flight-tracking website Flightradar24.
Israeli officials have described the incident as an “attempted terrorist attack”. However, Netanyahu previously told CBS News that the possibility of a mental health issue had not been ruled out.
“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 a video message.
‘Heroes’
Netanyahu later praised Machchhar for what he called 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 also praised Machchhar, describing him as a “HERO” and saying his actions helped save lives.
Passenger Miryam Shira Ohayon said the aircraft was “pretty much out of control” when 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 traveling on the flight… landed the aircraft safely” and announced the suspension of its 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.
AFP
