Trump Says Flydubai Co-Pilot May Have Iran Link as Probe Deepens

Trump made the remark when reporters asked whether he had received information about a possible Iranian link to the September 30 cockpit assault.

He said his answer was “yes” based on what he was hearing, while stressing that the matter was still being worked on.

The US president’s statement has not established an Iranian role in the incident.

Investigators in the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Israel are continuing to examine the co-pilot’s background, motive and the circumstances surrounding the attack.

Reuters reported that no Iranian connection had been established as of October 1.

The incident occurred aboard Flydubai Flight FZ1073 during its journey from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

The aircraft was carrying 174 people when the cockpit confrontation began. The co-pilot allegedly attacked Machchhar, leaving the captain injured and sending the aircraft into a rapid descent.

What followed was an extraordinary attempt to regain control of the aircraft. Despite being wounded, Machchhar succeeded in opening the cockpit door.

Passengers and crew members then entered the cockpit and helped restrain the attacker.

Two qualified pilots travelling among the passengers subsequently assisted in taking control of the aircraft.

The Boeing 737 MAX was eventually diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it landed safely.

The aircraft had lost thousands of feet during the crisis, but the intervention of the captain, passengers and other pilots prevented the situation from developing into a crash.

Machchhar later described the ordeal to Prime Minister Narendra Modi during a video call from the hospital.

According to Reuters, the Indian captain explained that opening the cockpit door was a crucial step that allowed people outside to intervene. Modi praised his quick thinking and courage.

The captain has subsequently received public recognition from leaders in India and Israel.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu also praised Machchhar for his actions during the emergency, while the UAE has commended the Indian pilot for helping avert what could have been a major disaster.

The attack has also prompted questions about the alleged assailant’s background.

Israeli officials have described the incident as an attempted jihadist attack, while the UAE has opened an investigation into whether terrorism or prior planning was involved.

Those claims remain part of the investigation rather than a final judicial finding.

Trump had earlier described the attacker as possibly a terrorist or someone acting for another reason.

His latest comments have now placed Iran among the questions being examined, although there is currently no publicly established evidence proving that the Iranian government directed or organised the assault.

Trump has also warned that the United States would respond forcefully if Iran were ultimately found to be responsible.

Any such conclusion, however, would depend on the outcome of the ongoing investigations.

The case therefore remains open on several fronts: investigators are examining why the co-pilot allegedly attacked his colleague, whether the attempt to interfere with the aircraft was deliberate, whether there was any wider organisation behind the act, and whether any foreign connection can be established.

For now, the clearest confirmed outcome is that a potentially catastrophic cockpit emergency ended with the aircraft safely on the ground in Saudi Arabia and the injured Indian captain alive and receiving treatment.