Trump Vows Severe Retaliation Against Iran If Involved in Flydubai Hijacking
US President Donald Trump has stated that Iran is likely involved in an attack carried out by a co-pilot during the hijacking of a Flydubai aircraft en route to Israel. Trump vowed that Tehran would be hit very hard if involvement is proven.
According to AFP, on Friday (2/10/2026), the co-pilot allegedly attacked the pilot before passengers managed to secure the aircraft to prevent a crash. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu stated that the individual had undergone indoctrination.
“I believe the answer—based on the information I have heard—is yes, but we are currently handling it,” Trump told reporters at the White House when questioned regarding Iran’s involvement in the flight incident from Dubai to Tel Aviv.
When asked whether the US would retaliate against Iran if the country were found responsible for the attack, Trump replied: “Oh, they will be hit very hard, do not worry.”
The US leader’s threat of retaliation emerges amidst his increasingly hardline stance regarding the war against Iran, which is currently at a stalemate.
In an interview with Time magazine, Trump suggested there is a possibility he will launch further attacks against Iran following the US midterm elections next month.
The Republican Party is concerned about losing control of Congress in the upcoming elections on 3 November, given that public satisfaction with Trump is at its lowest point due to the Iran war and the surge in the cost of living triggered by high oil prices.
Trump reaffirmed his threat to eliminate Iran, as he previously stated in his speech to the UN General Assembly last week, despite having previously positioned himself as a ‘president of peace’.
“Yes, I will do it. It is possible,” Trump told Time.
“Because by eliminating Iran, we create world peace. With Iran present, I believe peace can never be achieved,” he added.
Iran continues to maintain control over the strategic Strait of Hormuz, more than seven months after the initial US and Israeli attacks on the Islamic Republic. Trump stated that the objective of this war is to prevent Iran from developing nuclear weapons.
Meanwhile, the US is scheduled to deploy a third aircraft carrier and up to 10,000 additional military personnel to the Middle East by the end of November, according to a report by the Wall Street Journal.
It is not yet known whether the new aircraft carrier will be the USS Theodore Roosevelt, which would replace one of the two carriers already stationed in the region.
Trump told his staff that he expects to launch further airstrikes by the end of November, as quoted by the newspaper.