US and Israel Probe Iran After FlyDubai Hijacking Attempt

The United States, Israel, and the United Kingdom are investigating potential Iranian involvement in two security incidents: the attempted hijacking of FlyDubai Flight 1073 and a security breach at R.A.F. Fairford in Britain. On Wednesday, an Omani co-pilot stabbed Captain Smit Machchhar during a flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv, causing the aircraft to plummet 17,000 feet in one minute. Machchhar opened the cockpit door despite severe injuries, allowing passengers to enter and restrain the attacker before the plane made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.

Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu characterized the event as a terrorist act, stating the co-pilot underwent "Islamist radicalisation" and intended to crash the plane with all passengers on board. UAE diplomatic adviser Anwar Gargash also labeled the incident a "dangerous terrorist act." While Saudi officials initially described the event as an assault, the suspect was transferred to the United Arab Emirates for a terrorism investigation. FlyDubai has suspended all flights to and from Israel.

President Donald Trump suggested Iran may be responsible and warned the country would "be hit very hard" if confirmed. In response to the flight incident and the R.A.F. Fairford breach—which UK Prime Minister Andy Burnham linked to Iran—the U.S. is deploying the USS Theodore Roosevelt and additional Marines to the Middle East.