US President Donald Trump has warned that Iran would be “hit very hard” if Tehran is found to have been involved in an alleged attack aboard a Flydubai passenger flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
Trump made the statement on Thursday, October 1, 2026, as authorities continued investigating the incident involving Flydubai flight FZ1073, which was diverted to Saudi Arabia after an alleged violent confrontation in the cockpit.
The flight was carrying more than 170 people when the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and attempted to take control of the aircraft. The injured captain subsequently managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and other crew members to intervene and help restrain the attacker.
The aircraft, a Boeing 737 Max 8, eventually made an emergency landing at Tabuk airport in northwestern Saudi Arabia. The captain, identified as Indian national Smit Machchhar, was injured during the incident but survived. Authorities subsequently began investigations into the circumstances surrounding the confrontation and the motive of the alleged attacker.
Speaking to reporters at the White House, Trump was asked whether he believed Iran was connected to the incident.
“I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now,” the US President said, without providing details of the information behind his assessment.
When asked whether the United States would retaliate against Iran if Tehran was established to have been behind the incident, Trump issued a direct warning.
“They’ll be hit very hard, don’t worry,” he said.
Trump’s comments came as investigators from several countries worked to establish why the co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain and whether anyone else was involved.
The incident began while the Flydubai aircraft was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. According to flight-tracking information cited by the Associated Press, the aircraft descended rapidly from about 33,000 feet to 17,000 feet in roughly one minute after the emergency began. The flight also transmitted emergency and unlawful-interference codes before eventually being diverted to Tabuk.
Passengers reportedly became involved after the injured captain was able to open the cockpit door. They helped subdue the alleged attacker and prevent the situation from escalating further, while crew members and pilots in training helped secure the aircraft for its emergency landing.
The incident has triggered an international investigation involving authorities in Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, Oman and the United States. The alleged attacker is an Omani national and has been taken into custody, while investigators are examining several possible explanations for the incident.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has described the alleged attacker as having undergone Islamist radicalisation, but he has also said it was too early to establish whether Iran was directly involved. Netanyahu told Fox News that investigators were seeking to determine whether the suspect had accomplices and whether Iran played any role.
The distinction is significant because no confirmed evidence publicly establishing Iranian involvement had been released at the time of Trump’s comments. The UAE has also launched its own investigation, including an examination of whether the incident had a terrorist motive.
Flydubai has meanwhile suspended flights to and from Israel while the investigation continues. The airline said an altercation had occurred in the flight deck and that crew members intervened to secure the aircraft before it was safely diverted. The airline has urged against premature speculation while authorities establish the facts.
The incident comes against the backdrop of heightened tensions between Washington and Tehran. Trump has continued to issue warnings against Iran while diplomatic efforts aimed at resolving the broader conflict remain uncertain. In a separate Truth Social post on Thursday, Trump said his administration had already dealt with what he described as the Iranian nuclear threat and suggested that maintaining that outcome remained a priority.
Trump’s latest warning therefore adds another layer to an already volatile situation. However, whether Iran had any connection to the Flydubai incident remains an investigative question rather than an established fact.
For now, investigators are focused on determining exactly what happened inside the cockpit, why the alleged attack occurred and whether the suspect acted alone. The survival of everyone aboard the aircraft after the emergency landing has been attributed in part to the actions of the injured captain, passengers and other crew members who intervened during the crisis.
As investigations continue, Trump’s warning means any confirmed evidence linking Tehran to the incident could carry significant diplomatic and security consequences. Until such evidence emerges, however, the alleged Iranian connection remains unconfirmed.
