President Donald Trump said Thursday that an investigation was underway into a violent incident aboard a FlyDubai flight and warned that Iran would be hit “very hard” if Tehran was found to be responsible, AP reported.
Trump told reporters at the White House that authorities were examining a possible link between Iran and the incident, in which the co-pilot allegedly stabbed the captain aboard an Israel-bound flight, causing the aircraft to plunge before passengers helped stop the attack and the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
“We’re working on it right now,” Trump told reporters when asked if there was an Iranian link. “I would say the answer, based on what I’m hearing, is yes, but we’re working on it right now.”
When asked if the United States would retaliate against Iran if it was discovered that it was behind the incident, Trump responded, “Oh they’ll be hit, very hard, don’t worry.”
Investigators from Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates, Israel, the United States and Oman were working to determine the motive, according to The Associated Press. According to an official briefed on the investigation, all possible scenarios, including terrorism, are being looked at.
