Trump threatens severe action if Iran linked to Flydubai incident

US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would face severe consequences if Tehran is found to have any connection to the Flydubai incident in which the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain during a flight to Israel.

Speaking at an event in Texas, Trump said he had been briefed about the incident and suggested the co-pilot could have links to Iran. He did not provide details or evidence to support the claim.

“If Iran is involved, Iran will be hit very hard,” Trump said.

Trump also said oil prices would begin to decline once the Iran issue was resolved, adding that he believed the matter was already “practically over”.

He said Iran had two options: agree to what he described as a fair deal or face the consequences of refusing.

The incident involved a Flydubai flight travelling from the United Arab Emirates to Tel Aviv.

The co-pilot allegedly attacked and injured the Indian captain, causing the aircraft to descend sharply before passengers intervened. The plane eventually made an emergency landing in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.

Passengers said the injured captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing them to enter and restrain the co-pilot. The aircraft had 174 people aboard, most of them Israeli passengers.

Asaf Rajuan, one of the passengers who helped intervene, said in a statement released by the Israeli president’s office that passengers acted instinctively to survive during the crisis.

A regional official familiar with the investigation said the suspect was an Omani citizen and had been arrested.

Saudi authorities are working with Israel and other countries to establish the motive behind the incident, with the UAE, US and Oman also involved in the investigation.

The suspected Iranian connection remains unconfirmed. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has also said it was too early to determine whether Iran was involved.