Trump Vows to Hit Iran Hard if Linked to Flydubai Attack

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran will be “hit very hard” if it is found to be linked to a pilot’s attack on a flydubai flight to Israel.

The incident occurred a day earlier when the co-pilot allegedly assaulted the captain on a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

Passengers intervened to prevent the plane from crashing, allowing it to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The mostly Israeli passengers were later flown home to a hero’s welcome.

Trump’s comments came as the United Arab Emirates opened an investigation into possible terrorism links, and 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.

On the question of US retaliation if Iran was found responsible, he replied: “Oh, they’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry.”

The threat coincided with a wider US military buildup in the region. Axios reported that Washington had recently deployed additional Patriot missile batteries to Saudi Arabia and Qatar to protect key energy facilities.

The USS Theodore Roosevelt aircraft carrier and its strike group were also heading to the Middle East, where they could join two other US carrier strike groups already in the area.

Saudi Arabia said the co-pilot, identified as an Omani national, was transferred to the UAE on Thursday accompanied by an Emirati security team.

Its initial investigation showed he had attacked the aircraft’s captain, triggering a struggle for control before the emergency landing.

Netanyahu told Fox News the attacker had called out “Kill me, kill me,” describing him as clearly suicidal.

He credited Indian captain Smit Machchhar and passengers with averting catastrophe after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed him and tried to crash the plane.

Passengers described the aircraft plummeting about 17,000 feet in a minute as they rushed the cockpit and overpowered the co-pilot.

Flydubai suspended flights to Israel while the investigation continues.

Israeli President Isaac Herzog said he would honour five Israelis who helped prevent the crash. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi praised the captain as a “HERO.”