Trump Warns Iran of 'Very Hard' Retaliation Over Flight Incident

President Donald Trump stated Thursday that Iran would face significant retaliation if it is found to be behind the actions of a copilot who attempted to crash an Israel-bound FlyDubai flight. The aircraft was carrying more than 180 people.

Trump issued this warning from the White House while investigators were examining the motive behind the copilot's alleged actions, which included stabbing the captain, leading the plane to plummet before passengers intervened to regain control and land the aircraft in Saudi Arabia. When asked by reporters if he had been briefed on any links between the copilot and Tehran, Trump responded, "We're working on it right now." He added, "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now." He further asserted, "Oh they'll be hit, very hard, don't worry. You just ask them. They know what happened. They'll be hit very hard."

The incident occurred as diplomatic efforts to end a seven-month war appear to be stalled. Iranian officials had indicated they received a U.S. response to their proposal to end the conflict, a proposal Trump had previously rejected. Details of this response have not been disclosed.

In related military movements, the U.S. has dispatched approximately 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East, according to a U.S. official. This deployment could bring the total number of aircraft carriers in the region to three by late October.

Passengers on the FlyDubai flight, en route from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, described how the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing them to intervene. One passenger, Asaf Rajuan, stated, "We felt helpless, suspended in midair, and I didn’t know who to turn to. But it was all instinct to survive."

The copilot, an Omani citizen, is under arrest, and authorities from Saudi Arabia, the UAE, the United States, and Israel are involved in the investigation into his motive. The investigation is considering all scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suggested the attacker underwent "Islamist indoctrination" but declined to name who might have been involved. He also noted that the copilot may have bypassed Israeli aviation rules that typically prevent pilots from flying to Israel if their countries lack diplomatic relations with the Jewish state.

Video circulated from the scene shows the bound copilot on his knees. Captain Smit Machchhar, the Indian captain, is reportedly recovering in Abu Dhabi. It remains unclear what weapon was used.

Israeli intelligence and security officials have joined the investigation in Saudi Arabia, and Israel has requested the copilot be transferred to Israel for further questioning. While Saudi Arabia and Israel do not have formal diplomatic ties, they have a history of security and intelligence cooperation.

The UAE government has also launched its own investigation, given that the plane is registered there and UAE law applies to crimes committed on board.

Netanyahu stated that it was "too early to say" if there was Iranian involvement. He had previously discussed the incident with Trump, who described the copilot as potentially "a terrorist or perhaps a whack job."

During the flight, distress codes were transmitted: "7700" for a general emergency and "7500" for unlawful interference. The aircraft experienced a rapid descent from approximately 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet before an erratic maneuver near the Jordanian border, eventually landing safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. The flight crew, identified as pilots in training, secured the aircraft.

Passengers on board included individuals from Israel, India, and the UAE, with four holding American citizenship.