Trump says Iran will be hit “very hard” if linked to FlyDubai attack

President Trump said Thursday that Iran was likely linked to the FlyDubai co-pilot who allegedly tried to crash an Israel-bound passenger jet, and warned that Tehran would be hit “very hard” if that link is confirmed. Investigators have not publicly established a motive or any Iranian role.

Other accounts: Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu told Fox News it was “too early to say” whether Iran was involved. He also said the attacker had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination,” without naming who radicalized him; his office declined to elaborate when AP asked. A senior Israeli official told Ynetnews that investigators have so far ruled out an apparent Iran connection and that the co-pilot most likely acted alone. A regional official briefed on the probe told AP that terrorism and mental-health explanations both remain under review.

The flight: On Wednesday, the co-pilot on FlyDubai flight FZ1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv stabbed the Indian captain, Capt. Smit Machchhar, AP and Israeli officials said. Passengers and crew overpowered the attacker after a sharp descent; the jet landed in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. AP put more than 180 people aboard, mostly Israelis. Saudi Arabia later handed the Omani-national suspect to the UAE; Machchhar was also moved to Abu Dhabi for further care, Indian and Israeli reporting said. The UAE is investigating whether the episode had a “terrorist purpose.”

Wider Iran context: Trump’s threat came as diplomacy to end the roughly seven-month U.S.–Israel war with Iran looks stalled, AP reported. In a Time interview published Thursday, Trump left open restarting bombing after the Nov. 3 midterms and said he would not accept Iran proposals he “wouldn’t have approved a year ago.” A U.S. official told AP that about 9,000 troops aboard a ship group, including a third carrier, are heading to the Middle East and could put three carriers in the region by late October.

Core quotes and threat (“based on what I’m hearing,” “hit very hard”), passenger count framing (~180+/182), stalled diplomacy, Time interview on possible post-midterm bombing, and ~9,000-troop/third-carrier dispatch follow Associated Press (Melanie Lidman, Samy Magdy, Michelle L. Price, Cara Anna) as carried by CBC and Fox Carolina, Oct 1, 2026, plus CBS News (Kathryn Watson) and AFP via France24. Netanyahu “Islamist radical indoctrination,” aviation-rule loophole, and “too early to say” on Iran follow Fox News interviews cited in AP/CBS. Senior Israeli official saying investigators have so far ruled out an Iran link and that the co-pilot most likely acted alone, plus UAE transfer of the suspect and Capt. Smit Machchhar, follow Ynetnews (Itamar Eichner), Oct 1–2, 2026. Regional official: all scenarios from terrorism to mental disorders still open (AP). Motive and any Iran link remain unconfirmed; do not treat Trump’s suspicion as established fact. Refresh 8:11 PM PT Oct 1: re-checked AP, CBS, Reuters, Ynet, Independent; no Iranian government response to Trump’s claim and no new investigative findings located. Reuters/Independent: two Israeli security officials said no Iranian involvement identified so far (consistent with Ynet). Fox citation now links the Fox & Friends video.