flydubai flight scare: Omani co-pilot has links with Iran?

US President Donald Trump has hinted at a possible link between Iran and the flydubai co-pilot who allegedly attempted to crash a plane bound for Israel, even as investigators are probing the motive behind the attack. The Omani co-pilot stabbed the captain of flydubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday, causing the aircraft to plummet before others on board managed to land it safely in Saudi Arabia.

A potential catastrophe was prevented when the injured Indian captain Smit Machchhar succeeded in unlocking the cockpit door. It allowed passengers to intervene and overpower the co-pilot. The plane, carrying over 170 people, was then safely landed at Tabuk airport by a reserve crew who were also on board.

When asked by reporters at the White House about any potential links between the co-pilot and Tehran, Trump said, "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now." He did not elaborate on why he believed Iran might be involved.

Asked if the US would take action against Tehran if it was proven to be behind the attack, Trump replied, "Oh they'll be hit, very hard, don't worry."

"You just ask them," he added. "They know what happened. They'll be hit very hard."

The remarks come at a time when diplomatic efforts to resolve the ongoing war appear to have stalled.

‘Kill me, kill me’: flydubai’s Omani co-pilot was clearly suicidal, says Netanyahu

The co-pilot was motivated by radical Islamist indoctrination and was suicidal, said Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu on Thursday following the dramatic incident aboard the flight to Israel.

"We know that he underwent Islamist radical indoctrination. That appears to be something we are gathering from his personal information," Netanyahu said in an interview with Fox News.

Netanyahu said the co-pilot had called out to the aircrew after being pinned down. He said the man shouted, "Kill me, kill me".

"It's clear he was suicidal, that's not a question," Netanyahu said, adding that it "looks very likely" the man had meant to bring the plane down. "But again, I don't make final conclusions yet. But that's the indications we have now."

Two Israeli security officials added that they believe the co-pilot, identified by Israel as an Omani national, likely acted alone. They emphasised, however, that the investigation is still in its early stages.

When asked about potential Iranian involvement, Netanyahu said it was too early to say.

Data from the flight-tracking website Flightradar24 revealed the terrifying extent of the incident, showing the jet plunged more than 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds as it flew over Saudi Arabia.

Meanwhile, the United Arab Emirates has launched its own investigation into the attack. The UAE state news agency reported on Thursday that authorities are working to establish the motives and circumstances, and to determine "whether the incident was linked to any terrorist activity or purpose, or involved prior planning or direction."