Trump says Iran may be linked to flydubai co-pilot attack, gives no details

U.S. President Donald Trump said on Thursday, 1 October 2026, that Iran may be linked to a flydubai co-pilot accused of attacking his captain. He gave no details of any Iranian link.

Reporters at the White House asked Trump about possible links between the co-pilot and Iran. "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now," he said, according to The Hindu. Asked whether the United States would retaliate if Iran was behind the attack, he said Iran would be "hit very hard."

The flydubai flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. Saudi Arabia's Interior Ministry said its initial investigation showed the co-pilot attacked the captain. The Hindu reported that the captain and passengers stopped the attack, while Flydubai credited on-duty crew members; the plane did not crash. The Interior Ministry said both men left for Abu Dhabi on Thursday morning after medical clearance, accompanied by an Emirati security team.

According to Daily Sabah, the incident took place on Wednesday, 30 September 2026, and the plane landed in the Saudi city of Tabuk. It carried 174 people, mostly Israelis. The co-pilot is an Omani citizen and the captain is Indian. The U.S. State Department said four passengers were American citizens.

Daily Sabah, citing Flightradar24, reported that the Boeing 737 Max 8 dropped from 33,000 to 17,000 feet in about a minute. Someone in the cockpit transmitted emergency and unlawful-interference codes. A person who heard air traffic communications, speaking anonymously, said Saudi Arabia and Jordan turned the plane away before it landed in Tabuk. No reason was given.

The UAE said it has jurisdiction because the plane is registered there. Flydubai said it would suspend flights to and from Israel.

What is disputed

Passengers said they grappled with the co-pilot and stabilised the descent, Daily Sabah reported. Flydubai said on-duty crew members secured the jet "who diverted and landed the aircraft safely." An anonymous regional official described them as pilots in training. Daily Sabah stated the captain was stabbed, but the same report said the weapon was unclear.

What each side says

Trump said the co-pilot was "perhaps a terrorist or perhaps a whack job," according to Daily Sabah. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News "it's too early to say" whether Iran was involved. He said the suspect apparently used a loophole in Israeli aviation rules. The South China Morning Post quoted him as citing "Islamist radical indoctrination." The UAE said its investigation is examining "whether it was linked to any terrorist purpose."

The reports reviewed by Vocemundi do not include any evidence for an Iranian link or any response from Iran. Beyond Netanyahu's claim of indoctrination, they do not establish the co-pilot's motive. Daily Sabah reported that Oman's government had not commented.

Analysis

The central question is whether evidence will emerge to support or contradict the reported Iranian link. President Trump spoke of possible retaliation, but he described the matter as still under investigation. Netanyahu said it was too early to say. Investigators in the UAE, with Israeli participation according to Netanyahu, may clarify the co-pilot's motive and any outside involvement. If no link is established, the case may focus on aviation security and crew vetting. If a link is shown, regional tensions could rise. The unexplained reported refusals by air traffic control and the conflicting accounts of who secured the plane also remain open.

Produced by the Vocemundi newsroom with AI assistance.