Trump has said he “personally” believes Iran is responsible for the alleged attack carried out by an Omani co-pilot on a FlyDubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
When Trump was asked whether he believed Iran was behind the incident, he said, “I do. I personally do.” The U.S. president did not provide any specific details or evidence to back up the claim in his remarks. His comments come just days after the incident on FlyDubai Flight FZ1073 in which the Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the Indian captain inside the cockpit.
The incident occurred on September 30 when the aircraft was travelling from Dubai towards Tel Aviv. Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar with an axe in what authorities have described as an attempted hijacking and crash attempt.
Even though he suffered serious injuries in his confrontations, Captain Machchhar was able to unlatch the cockpit door. This allowed passengers and off-duty crew members to enter the cockpit and separate the co-pilot from the cockpit to prevent an escalation from taking place.
Aircraft Makes Emergency Landing In Saudi Arabia
The fight inside the cockpit caused the aircraft to fall into a steep descent. The plane dropped about 16,000 feet in two minutes before a hijacking distress signal was sent.
The aircraft was subsequently diverted to Saudi Arabia and made an emergency landing in Tabuk. All 180 people on the flight were able to disembark safely, the information about the incident said.
Since then the co-pilot's alleged motives have been investigated and whether the attack was linked to a larger plan. The attacker gained access to an axe and launched an assault inside the cockpit, the media has also reported.
Reports published by The Times of Israel on Sunday said al-Hammami had planned to direct the plane to Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Hebrew media reported that the co-pilot was detained and was being questioned in the United Arab Emirates.
According to those reports, al-Hammami said he planned to continue operating the flight after he had incapacitated Captain Machchhar. The plan was to obtain the necessary landing clearances before crashing into an airport or another aircraft.
These details remain a part of the investigation, and authorities have not publicly established all aspects of the alleged plan.
Captain Smit Machchhar Praised For Preventing Disaster
Captain Machchhar has received much of the credit for his role as captain for his actions during the incident. He had suffered severe injuries but somehow the cockpit door was opened and others came to his aid and he was able to hold the attacker at bay.
The captain later described the impact of the initial assault, saying that his vision was severely blurred after he tried to stop the co-pilot. But he was able to let passengers and off-duty crew members get into the cockpit.
Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar, calling him a “hero of Israel, India, and the world” in a video conference with the Indian pilot as he was recovering.
Netanyahu later spoke directly with Machchhar by phone. The Israeli government later invited the Indian captain and his family to attend Israel’s Independence Day celebrations in May 2027.
Trump Links Incident to Iran
Trump’s comments have added a geopolitical dimension to an aviation incident that is already under investigation. His statement that he personally believes Iran was responsible is his assessment, but he did not publicly explain the basis for the claim.
The alleged involvement of an Omani national, the flight’s route between Dubai and Tel Aviv, and the attention paid to Israel are all likely to bring attention to the case. Investigators will be looking at the co-pilot’s background, communications, potential motives, and any links to individuals or organisations.
The September 30 incident was going to be crucial to establishing what was the source of the cockpit attack and whether there was external involvement. The safe landing of the aircraft after the confrontation prevented what could have been a much more catastrophic disaster in aviation.
The incident has also highlighted cockpit security and the actions of flight crews during emergencies. Captain Machchhar’s response and passengers and off-duty crew members’ intervention prevented the aircraft from being brought down.
