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US President Donald Trump has threatened Iran with a “very harsh” military response if Tehran was found to be responsible for an alleged attempt by the co-pilot of a passenger plane bound for Israel to crash the plane with more than 180 people on board.
Trump issued the warning Thursday as investigators continued to probe the dramatic mid-air attack involving a FlyDubai flight traveling from Dubai in the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv, Israel.
The incident occurred when the Omani co-pilot of the plane allegedly attacked and stabbed the Indian captain, causing the plane to plunge into a steep descent.
The crisis was finally brought under control after the injured captain opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew members to confront and restrain the attacker.
The plane was diverted to Saudi Arabia and landed safely.
Asked by reporters at the White House whether he had been briefed on possible links between the suspect and Iran, Trump said investigators were still working on the matter.
“We’re working on it right now,” he said.
Asked if he believed there was a connection to Iran, Trump responded: “I would say the answer, based on what I’ve heard, is yes, but we’re working on it right now.”
But when asked whether the United States would retaliate against Iran if Tehran was found to be behind the incident, Trump issued a stark warning.
“Oh, they will be hit very hard, don’t worry. Just ask them. They know what happened. They will be hit very hard,” he said.
The incident triggered a multinational investigation involving authorities from Saudi Arabia, Israel, the United Arab Emirates and Oman, with the United States also involved.
A regional official briefed on the investigation said the suspect, an Omani national, was arrested after the emergency landing and later handed over to the United Arab Emirates.
Investigators are examining the circumstances of the attack, the suspect’s past and possible motive, including whether he acted alone or was linked to an organized group.
The investigation is also expected to establish whether the attack was specifically aimed at shooting down the plane or whether the suspect had another objective.
Israeli authorities have expressed concern about possible terrorism, but the investigation has not yet publicly established that the suspect was acting on behalf of Iran or any other government.
Passengers on board the plane described a chaotic struggle after the attack began.
The co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain inside the cockpit, causing the plane to embark on a dangerously steep descent.
Despite being injured, the captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers access to the cockpit. The passengers and crew members then struggled with the co-pilot and managed to restrain him.
The severity of the descent reportedly caused damage to the plane, including the rudder, before the plane stabilized.
The plane was eventually diverted to Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.
Asaf Rajuan, one of the passengers who spoke, described the experience as a desperate fight for survival.
“We felt helpless, suspended in mid-air and didn’t know who to turn to. But it was all instinct to survive,” Rajuan said in a statement shared by the Israeli presidency.
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