U.S. President Donald Trump stated on Thursday, Oct. 1, 2026, that the United States would hit Iran "very hard" if investigators find the country was involved in a co-pilot’s attempt to crash a FlyDubai flight. The plane, which was traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, was diverted to Saudi Arabia after the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain. Investigators from the United Arab Emirates, the United States, Saudi Arabia, and Oman are working to determine a motive and identify any external links.
The incident involved FlyDubai Flight FZ1073, which was carrying 182 people, mostly Israeli citizens. Passengers reported that the Indian captain, Smit Machchhar, managed to unlock the cockpit door after being bloodied in the attack, allowing passengers to intervene. The group grappled with the co-pilot and stabilized the aircraft, though the descent was sharp enough that the plane's rudder was torn away. Captain Machchhar is recovering in Abu Dhabi.
President Trump said during a briefing that based on what he was hearing, he believed there was a link to Tehran, though he noted that officials are still "working on it right now." He did not provide specific evidence for the suspicion. Meanwhile, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu claimed the suspect had undergone "Islamist indoctrination," though his office declined to provide further details. The suspect, an Omani citizen, is under arrest and was recently handed over to the UAE by Saudi authorities.
For ordinary citizens, the incident highlights risks in international aviation on routes involving countries without formal diplomatic ties. The suspect reportedly utilized a loophole in Israeli aviation rules to fly toward Israel despite being from Oman, a country with no diplomatic relations with the state. The U.S. response, as described by President Trump, suggests that military force remains a tool in addressing interference in civil aviation.
The next steps in the investigation involve analyzing the co-pilot's background. While diplomatic efforts to end the seven-month war continue, President Trump stated he would not accept Iranian proposals he would have rejected a year ago and noted the possibility of resumed bombing after the Nov. 3 U.S. election. Military officials indicated that the increased naval presence in the Middle East would be fully established by late October 2026. A definitive report on the co-pilot's motives has not yet been released.