Donald Trump Says ‘It’s Possible’ Flydubai Pilot Linked to Iran’s IRGC (Video)
US President Donald Trump said 'it's possible' the Omani flydubai pilot who attempted to crash a Tel Aviv-bound jet was linked to Iran's IRGC, adding that 'we are still looking into it.' However, an Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post their working assumption remains unchanged, maintaining the co-pilot acted as a 'lone wolf' amid ongoing probes.
United States President Donald Trump said that "It's possible" there was a link between the Omani flydubai pilot and Iran's Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps (IRGC) when talking to reporters on the White House's South Lawn on Thursday, October 1. The remarks come amid ongoing multilateral investigations into the mid-air hijacking and stabbing incident aboard Flydubai flight FZ1073 en route from Dubai to Tel Aviv, which was forced into an emergency diversion to Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
"I'd say that, from what I hear, the answer is yes, but we are still looking into it," Trump said when asked if he had been briefed on a possible link. In a follow-up exchange on the White House grounds, when asked by a reporter, "Has anybody briefed you on whether the FlyDubai pilot is linked to Iran?", Trump stated, "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now". FlyDubai Co-Pilot Who Attacked Capt Smit Machchhar Had ‘Radical Islamist Indoctrination’, Intended to Crash Plane: Netanyahu.
Donald Trump Says ‘It’s Possible’ Flydubai Pilot Linked to Iran
Q: Has anybody briefed you on whether the FlyDubai pilot is linked to Iran?@POTUS: "I would say the answer, based on what I'm hearing, is yes, but we're working on it right now." pic.twitter.com/9Snbp3wSNV
— Rapid Response 47 (@RapidResponse47) October 1, 2026
The dialogue intensified as reporters pressed the US President on whether intelligence points to state-backed infiltration or independent extremist indoctrination. "So, is it possible this guy was planted there by the IRGC, or became radicalised some other way, and then tried to crash the plane?" a reporter asked.
"It's possible, yes," Trump replied. The statements reflect heightened vigilance across international security agencies regarding regional state actors following the violent confrontation inside the flight deck, during which the co-pilot stabbed the flight commander, Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar.
Israeli Officials Maintain 'Lone Wolf' Assessment
Despite Trump's suggestions, Israeli intelligence and security officials offered a differing operational view regarding the co-pilot's affiliations.
An Israeli official told The Jerusalem Post that the working assumption remains unchanged despite Trump's comments.
"The co-pilot acted as a 'lone wolf' and not on behalf of any other party. However, the investigation is still ongoing," the official said. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had earlier noted that it remained too early to conclusively confirm state-level involvement while debriefings and forensic reviews continue.
During the briefing, Trump broadened his commentary to address Iran's network of regional allies and Washington's strategic options. Trump also commented that "When Iran goes, its proxies [like Hezbollah] will go too".
Highlighting pending diplomatic or military calculations facing the administration, he added: "I have to make a decision. Will there be a deal here, or will they simply cease to exits," Trump said.
Multi-agency intelligence teams from the UAE, Saudi Arabia, Israel, and the United States continue to analyze digital footprints, communications records, and operational travel histories of the detained co-pilot to establish definitive findings.
(The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Oct 01, 2026 11:23 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com).
