Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' if linked to flydubai attack

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1. 1h ago

   Trump Warns Iran Over Flydubai Flight Attack

   US President Donald Trump stated that Tehran was likely involved in an in-flight attack on a Flydubai flight to Israel and warned that Iran would be hit very hard if linked to the incident. The flight suffered a midair stabbing involving a copilot that caused the aircraft to suddenly plummet, losing roughly 17,000 feet of altitude in one minute according to Flightradar24 data. Passengers and crew intervened, allowing the wounded captain, Smit Machchhar, to prevent a crash and land safely in Saudi Arabia before passengers returned to Israel.

   Why it matters

   The in-flight emergency on the Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai service has placed global aviation security measures under fresh scrutiny following the cockpit altercation. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised the pilot for preventing a disaster comparable to the September 11 attacks, while passengers described rushing the flight deck during the rapid descent. Authorities are continuing their investigations into the copilot and any potential foreign connections.

   What is confirmed

   • US President Donald Trump warned on Thursday that Iran will be hit very hard if it is found to be linked to a pilot's attack on a Flydubai flight to Israel.
   • The Flydubai flight lost around 17,000 feet of altitude in the span of a minute during the midair incident before landing safely in Saudi Arabia.
   • Israeli Prime Minister Netanyahu stated that the pilot on the Tel Aviv-bound Flydubai flight prevented another 9/11.
   • Hero Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar recounted the fight to save passengers after the cockpit attack.

   Still unconfirmed

   • US President Donald Trump stated that Tehran was likely involved in the attack by the pilot on the Flydubai flight.

   What to watch next

   • Results of the ongoing investigation into the copilot's identity, motive, and potential links to Iran
   • Official findings from international aviation security reviews following the midair attack
   Sources used for this update (17)

   1. AP News — Attacker's identity and motive remain unknown after FlyDubai flight to Israel escapes disaster
   2. Reuters — Israeli passenger says he knew what to do on flydubai plane after watching TV show
   3. Fox News — Pilot on Tel Aviv-bound FlyDubai 'prevented another 9/11,' Netanyahu says
   4. CNN — ‘I couldn’t let everybody else die,’ says hero Flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar
   5. Euronews.com — Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' if linked to flydubai attack
   6. NPR — Investigation into copilot continues after midair stabbing on FlyDubai flight
   7. NBC News — Some of world’s strict aviation security measures are under fresh scrutiny after in-flight attack
   8. The Hill — Wounded FlyDubai captain recounts fight to save passengers, and other Mideast developments
   9. www.euronews.com — Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' if linked to flydubai pilot stabbing attack
   10. www.straitstimes.com — Trump vows to hit Iran hard over flydubai attack threat | The ...
   11. www.koreatimes.co.kr — Trump vows to hit Iran 'very hard' if linked to FlyDubai attack
   12. flipboard.com — Trump vows to hit Iran ‘very hard’ if linked to flydubai attack
   confidence 95%