WASHINGTON/TEL AVIV — U.S. President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that Iran will be struck "very hard" if investigations confirm Tehran's involvement in a terrifying mid-air incident where a copilot allegedly attempted to crash an Israel-bound passenger jet.
The stark warning came as international investigators raced to determine the motive behind the attack aboard the FlyDubai flight, which was carrying 182 passengers—mostly Israeli citizens—from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump was asked whether intelligence officials had uncovered any links between the suspect and Tehran.
"We're working on it right now," Trump said. "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now." When pressed on whether the United States would retaliate if Iranian complicity is proven, the president didn't mince words: "Oh, they'll be hit, very hard, don't worry. You just ask them. They know what happened. They'll be hit very hard."
Inside the Cockpit Chaos
The harrowing incident unfolded roughly two and a half hours after takeoff. According to flight data and passenger accounts, the flight turned chaotic when the Omani copilot allegedly attacked and stabbed the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar.
The Boeing 737 Max 8 plummeted dramatically from an altitude of 33,000 feet down to 17,000 feet in just about a minute. Amid the steep descent, someone in the cockpit discreetly punched in emergency distress codes—first "7700" for a general emergency, followed by "7500" to signal unlawful interference or a hijacking.
Despite being injured and bloodied, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door to let in on-duty crew members and passengers. Quick-thinking passengers, including Israeli traveler Asaf Rajuan, rushed in to subdue the rogue copilot and help stabilize the aircraft, ultimately landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
"We felt helpless, suspended in midair, and I didn't know who to turn to. But it was all instinct to survive," Rajuan said in a statement shared by Israel's presidency. Captain Machchhar has been widely hailed as a hero and is currently recovering in Abu Dhabi.
Ongoing Investigation and Geopolitical Tensions
Regional officials confirmed that the suspect, an Omani citizen, is in custody after Saudi authorities handed him over to the UAE, which holds primary jurisdiction over the aircraft. Investigators are actively exploring all potential motives, ranging from radicalization and terrorism to mental health disorders.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the attacker had undergone Islamist indoctrination, though details on who radicalized him remain unclear. Netanyahu also noted that the suspect managed to bypass standard security filters regarding flight routes into Israel. Israeli intelligence and security teams have traveled to Saudi Arabia to assist in the joint interrogation.
Trump’s fiery comments arrived against the backdrop of strained diplomatic relations, as talks aimed at resolving regional conflicts appear stalled. Meanwhile, the U.S. military has deployed approximately 9,000 additional troops and naval assets to the Middle East, signaling heightened vigilance as authorities continue to piece together how a routine commercial flight nearly turned into a catastrophic disaster.
