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Trump Threatens Iran Over Copilot Attack on Israel-Bound Flight
Developing
In Short: US President Donald Trump warned Iran would face severe consequences if linked to the copilot who tried to crash an Israel-bound flight.
US President Donald Trump on Thursday warned that Iran would face severe consequences if it is found to be behind the copilot who attempted to crash an Israel-bound flight.
Investigators are still working to determine the motive behind the copilot's actions, which led to the plane's steep descent before other passengers intervened and the aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
Trump told reporters at the White House that based on what he has heard, Iran is likely involved, though he acknowledged that the investigation is ongoing.
The president, in a Time magazine interview, also indicated that he would not accept any proposals from Iran that he wouldn't have approved a year ago, and suggested the possibility of resuming military action after the US election.
The copilot, who has not been publicly identified, was handed over to the UAE, where the plane is registered, and is currently under interrogation.
Israeli investigators are expected to join the interrogation process, though it is unclear if the copilot will be sent to Israel for further questioning.
The UAE government has initiated its own investigation to determine if the attack was linked to any terrorist purpose.
Dr. Shota Musayev, a dentist who treated the captain, captured video inside the plane showing the copilot on his knees with his hands tied behind his back.
Smit Machchhar, one of the passengers who helped stop the attack, is recovering in Abu Dhabi.
All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being considered in the ongoing investigation.
Background
Four Republican senators defected from President Donald Trump's stance on the Iran war, voting with Democrats to limit his war powers as the conflict approaches the eight-month mark.
What's confirmed
- JERUSALEM: US President Donald Trump said Thursday that if Iran is linked to the copilot who tried to crash an Israel-bound flight, the Islamic Republic would be struck “very hard” for the attempt on the lives of more than 180 people aboard the jet.
- Trump issued the warning as investigators worked to determine why the copilot stabbed the flight’s captain, causing the FlyDubai plane to plummet before others on board stopped the attack and landed the airliner in Saudi Arabia.
- “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” Trump said.
- Trump said in a Time magazine interview published Thursday that he will not accept proposals from Iran that “he wouldn’t have approved a year ago,” and left open the possibility of resuming bombing after the Nov. 3 election in the US Meanwhile, the American military has dispatched roughly 9,000 troops aboard a group of ships to the Middle East, a US official said Thursday.
- Despite Trump’s public rebuff, mediators have continued working with Iran and the US to try to broker a deal to end the fighting and open the Strait of Hormuz, according to officials who were not authorized to comment publicly and spoke on condition of anonymity.
- Smit Machchhar, widely praised as one of the heroes of the flight, was recovering in the Emirati capital of Abu Dhabi, the Indian government said Thursday.
- The president was asked by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed about any links between the pilot behind the attack and Tehran.
What's still developing
- When asked by AP how the prime minister knew the copilot underwent indoctrination, Netanyahu’s office said it would not comment.
- Israeli investigators will join the interrogation of the copilot Israeli intelligence and security officials were in Saudi Arabia to help investigate the copilot, according to another regional official who spoke on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to speak to the media.
- The UAE government said its own investigation team had begun looking into the attack and “whether it was linked to any terrorist purpose,” noting that Emirati authorities have jurisdiction because the plane is registered there and UAE law applies to crimes committed on board.
- He did not elaborate about why he suspects Iran might be involved.
- Asked if the US would retaliate against Tehran if it was behind the attack, Trump said, “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry.” “You just ask them,” he added.
- How the mid-air struggle aboard a FlyDubai flight unfolded | Hanomansing Live "All possible scenarios, from terrorism to mental disorders, are being looked into. Nothing is ruled out for now," said the official, speaking on condition of anonymity because they were not authorized to discuss the ongoing investigation.
- What we know so far about the midair FlyDubai attack Netanyahu told Fox that the suspect apparently got through a loophole in Israeli aviation rules that normally bar pilots from flying to Israel if they are from countries that do not have diplomatic relations with Israel, which Oman does not.