Washington: US President Donald Trump has said he personally believes Iran was responsible for the foiled hijacking and crash attempt aboard a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv.

“I do. I personally do,” Trump told reporters at the White House when asked whether he believed Iran was behind the attack.

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The incident took place on September 30 aboard flydubai Flight FZ1073, when Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami allegedly attacked Indian Captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit.

Al-Hammami reportedly used an axe to attack Machchhar in an attempt to take control of the aircraft. Despite suffering serious injuries, the Indian captain managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty crew members to enter and restrain the attacker.

The confrontation sent the aircraft into a steep descent, with the plane losing around 16,000 feet in two minutes before a hijacking distress signal was transmitted.

The flight was subsequently diverted to Tabuk in Saudi Arabia, where it made an emergency landing. All 180 people on board were able to disembark safely.

Reports by The Times of Israel on Sunday said al-Hammami had allegedly planned to crash the aircraft into Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. Citing Hebrew-language media reports, the publication said the Omani co-pilot had been detained in the UAE and was being questioned by investigators.

According to the reports, al-Hammami allegedly told investigators that he intended to continue operating the flight normally after incapacitating Machchhar, secure the required landing clearances and then crash the aircraft into an airport facility or a parked aircraft.

The plan was thwarted when Machchhar, despite being seriously injured, succeeded in opening the cockpit door and enabling others to intervene.

Machchhar later recalled the attack, saying his vision became severely blurred after he tried to stop the assailant.

The Indian pilot's actions have since drawn widespread attention. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar as a “hero of Israel, India, and the world” during a video conference while the pilot was recovering.

Following a direct phone call between Netanyahu and Machchhar, the Israeli government also invited the Indian pilot and his family to attend Israel’s Independence Day celebrations in May 2027.

ANI