"Based on what I'm hearing, yes": Trump says flydubai co-pilot linked to Iran
Donald Trump suggests the flydubai co-pilot involved in a mid-air attack has Iranian links as investigations into radical indoctrination continue.
United States President Donald Trump has suggested that the flydubai co-pilot involved in a violent mid-air incident may have connections to Iran, according to preliminary information available to him.
Speaking to reporters while boarding Marine One, Trump addressed questions regarding whether he had been briefed on a potential Iranian connection. When asked if the co-pilot was linked to Tehran, the President stated, “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now.”
Investigation Into Radical Indoctrination
The remarks follow intense scrutiny regarding the motives of the co-pilot, who attacked Captain Smit Machchhar during flight FZ1073. While Trump suggested an Iranian link, he remained cautious about the specific nature of the connection. When questioned whether the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) had placed the individual on the flight or if he had been radicalised through other means, Trump remarked, "It could have been."
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also weighed in on the investigation, noting that the attacker had undergone Islamist radical indoctrination. Netanyahu revealed that the co-pilot appeared to be in a suicidal state, attempting to crash the aircraft.
"He is lying on the floor and he calls out to the crew, 'kill me, kill me'. So, it is clear that he was suicidal and was going to down the plane," Netanyahu told Fox and Friends.
Chaos in the Cockpit: How the Plane Was Saved
The incident occurred while the flydubai flight was en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The situation turned critical when the co-pilot stabbed Captain Machchhar and attempted to seize control of the aircraft. The struggle was described as harrowing:
- The attacker attempted to take full control of the cockpit.
- Despite his injuries, Captain Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door.
- Passengers and crew members intervened to assist.
- The crew had to use earphone cords and plastic cuffs to restrain the attacker's hands.
The aircraft was forced to divert from its original path and landed safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Captain Machchhar, who sustained injuries during the attack, is currently under medical observation in Abu Dhabi and is reported to be out of danger.
Economic Pressure on Tehran Intensifies
The mid-air attack comes amid a broader crackdown on Iran by the Trump administration. US Treasury Secretary Scott Bessent claimed that Iran's crude oil exports have been effectively halted due to tightened sanctions under "Operation Economic Outcast."
In a post on X, Bessent stated that Iran loaded "ZERO crude oil onto tankers in September," asserting that the administration is severing the economic lifelines used to finance Tehran's activities. Trump echoed this sentiment, suggesting that the current regime's influence is nearing an end.
While Israeli Ministry of Foreign Affairs spokesperson Michal Maayan confirmed that investigators are looking into ideological motives and potential accomplices, she noted that the inquiry remains in its initial stages and all avenues are being closely examined.