Trump: Iran Will Face a Severe Blow If Its Involvement in the Flydubai Plane Incident Is Proven

U.S. President Donald Trump said that Iran will face a "very severe" blow if it is proven to be linked to the "co-pilot who attempted to down the FlyDubai flight heading to Israel."

Trump's warning came as investigators work to determine the motives of the co-pilot, who reports say stabbed the captain of the plane, leading to a sharp descent of the "FlyDubai" flight, before people on board were able to stop the attack and regain control of the aircraft.

In response to a question from reporters at the White House about whether he had received a briefing on any connections between the co-pilot and Tehran, Trump said: "We are working on that now," according to the Associated Press.

He added: "I would say that the answer, based on what I have heard, is yes, but we are working on that now," without clarifying the reasons for his suspicion of Iran's possible involvement.

When asked if the United States would respond to Tehran if it is proven to be behind the attack, he said: "They will be hit, and very hard, don't worry." He added: "Just ask them, they know what happened, they will face a very severe blow."

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News, when asked if there were any indications of Iran's involvement, that "it is too early to say definitively."

Trump mentioned in statements on Wednesday that he discussed the "Fly Dubai" plane incident extensively with Netanyahu over the phone.

The UAE stated on Thursday that it is monitoring the incident involving "Fly Dubai" flight number (FZ1073), which was en route from Dubai International Airport to Tel Aviv, and was diverted to land safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, emphasizing that investigations include various circumstances of the incident and its motives, as well as any links to terrorist activity or prior planning or direction.

The UAE Ministry of Foreign Affairs indicated in a statement that the UAE Attorney General Hamad Al Shamsi ordered the formation of a team of specialized public prosecution members to investigate the incident, to understand its circumstances and causes, in light of what "Fly Dubai" announced regarding a disturbance in the cockpit during the flight, which required the intervention of crew members on board to secure it.

The ministry confirmed in its statement that "the judicial authorities in the UAE are responsible for investigating the incident in accordance with the applicable legislation, considering that the aircraft is registered in the country and carries its flag, which entails the application of UAE law to crimes committed on board, even if they occurred outside the territory of the state."

The ministry indicated that the investigations "include verifying various circumstances of the incident and its motives, the extent of any connection to terrorist activity or purpose, or the existence of prior planning or direction for it."

The UAE also expressed its "gratitude and appreciation to the Saudi authorities, valuing their cooperation and handling of the incident."

The Saudi Ministry of Interior revealed on Thursday the preliminary investigation results regarding the emergency landing of a Fly Dubai aircraft at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk, noting that the investigations showed an assault by the co-pilot on the captain, which resulted in them sustaining various injuries.

The Saudi Ministry of Interior revealed the preliminary investigation results regarding the emergency landing of a Fly Dubai aircraft at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport in Tabuk.

A responsible source in the Ministry of Interior stated that the relevant authorities dealt with an emergency situation declared by Fly Dubai flight number FZ1073 on Wednesday, granting the aircraft permission for an emergency landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz International Airport.

The source explained that the plane landed safely at 9:45 AM on Wednesday, September 30, with 174 passengers on board, in addition to a crew of 8 members, noting that necessary care was provided to all those on board.

He added that all passengers resumed their journey at 5:40 PM on Wednesday on an alternative flight operated by "Fly Dubai," while the crew members returned to Dubai on another company flight, except for the captain and his assistant who were taken to the hospital based on an assessment of their health condition.

The source said that initial investigations conducted by the relevant Saudi authorities, with the participation of a security team from the UAE, indicated that "an assault occurred on the captain of the plane by his assistant," resulting in both sustaining various injuries.

The Ministry of Interior's statement did not clarify the nature of the assault or its reasons, nor did it address the circumstances surrounding it or whether it occurred during the flight.

After their health condition improved and the medical team approved their departure, the captain and his assistant left Saudi Arabia on Thursday morning heading to Abu Dhabi accompanied by the Emirati security team, according to the source.

The responsible source confirmed that Saudi Arabia deals with emergency cases in accordance with its international and humanitarian commitments, as well as the approved regulations and instructions, ensuring the safety and security of air navigation.

He added that the response to the incident reflects, according to the Ministry of Interior, the readiness of the aviation and security systems in the Kingdom to handle exceptional cases.