Zillar Barta Desk,Washington : US President Donald Trump has said he personally believes Iran was responsible for the recent attempted attack aboard a Flydubai passenger flight bound for Israel. Trump's comments have added a new dimension to the investigation, although US Vice President JD Vance has cautioned that there is currently no conclusive evidence publicly linking Tehran to the incident.
Asked directly whether he believed Iran was behind the incident, Trump responded, “I do. I personally do.” He did not publicly provide evidence to substantiate his assessment. The remarks came as investigators continued examining the circumstances surrounding the dramatic cockpit incident involving a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai toward Tel Aviv.
The incident took place on September 30, when an Omani co-pilot allegedly attacked the captain inside the cockpit. The aircraft experienced a dangerous descent before the situation was brought under control. Passengers and other crew members intervened, while the injured captain was able to help open the cockpit door. The aircraft was subsequently diverted and landed safely in Saudi Arabia.
The flight was carrying more than 180 people, most of them Israeli passengers. Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, who was serving as captain, has been widely praised for his role during the emergency and is recovering from his injuries. Authorities from several countries are examining the incident and trying to determine the motive behind the attack.
Trump's assessment differs from the more cautious position expressed by Vice President JD Vance. Vance said he would defer to CIA Director John Ratcliffe and US intelligence officials on the question of whether Iran was involved.
Vance indicated that the United States was examining the possibility but said he had not seen anything conclusive establishing an Iranian connection. His comments underscore that the investigation remains ongoing and that Trump's statement represents his personal assessment rather than a publicly established intelligence finding.
Authorities in the United Arab Emirates are investigating the incident because the aircraft is registered there, while Saudi Arabia, Israel, Oman and the United States have also been involved in inquiries surrounding the attack. The Omani co-pilot was initially detained in Saudi Arabia and was later handed over to UAE authorities.
Investigators are considering multiple possible explanations for the attack. Publicly available information has not established a definitive motive, and officials have not released conclusive evidence demonstrating that the suspect was acting on behalf of Iran.
Earlier, Trump had indicated that he was hearing that Iran could be connected to the incident and warned that Tehran could face a severe response if such a link were established. At that stage, Israeli officials also said it was too early to determine whether Iran had played any role.
Iran has rejected suggestions that it was responsible for the Flydubai incident. Iranian officials have instead questioned the circumstances surrounding the episode and accused others of attempting to use the incident to place blame on Tehran.
The conflicting statements have therefore created uncertainty over the alleged Iranian connection. While Trump has publicly stated that he personally believes Iran was responsible, US intelligence officials have not publicly presented conclusive evidence supporting that claim.
The investigation is expected to continue as authorities examine the suspect's background, possible motives, communications and any potential links to organisations or foreign actors. Until investigators release further findings, the precise motivation behind the attempted attack remains unresolved.
The incident has nevertheless raised fresh concerns about aviation security and regional tensions, particularly amid heightened friction between the United States, Israel and Iran. The final determination of responsibility will depend on evidence gathered by investigators rather than political assertions alone.
