President Donald Trump said Thursday that U.S. officials are looking into whether the co-pilot had connections to Iran.
“We’re working on it right now,” Trump said when asked about a possible Iran link. “I would say the answer that I’m hearing is yes.”
Trump did not provide evidence of a connection, and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said it was still too early to determine whether Iran was involved.
The investigation follows a harrowing incident aboard a Flydubai flight traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv on Wednesday.
Authorities say the co-pilot attacked Capt. Smit Machchhar in the cockpit as the plane approached Israel. Despite being wounded, Machchhar was able to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers to enter and subdue the attacker.
The aircraft plunged thousands of feet during the struggle before those aboard were able to stabilize it. Two off-duty pilots traveling on the flight later took control and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
Passenger Tzvika Manes described helping overpower the attacker.
“I was covered with blood from fighting him,” Manes said. “When you are in that moment you don’t feel anything, you act, actually, like a machine, trying to control the situation.”
Netanyahu praised the passengers who intervened and said Thursday that information gathered during the investigation indicated the co-pilot had undergone “Islamist radical indoctrination.”
Netanyahu also said the attacker asked crew members to kill him after he was subdued.
The co-pilot, an Omani national who has not been publicly identified, remains in custody in Saudi Arabia. His motive has not been officially determined.
READ MORE: https://13wham.com/search?find=flydubai
_______________
Stay up to date with our social media:
13 WHAM on Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/13WHAM
13 WHAM on Twitter: https://twitter.com/13WHAM
13WHAM on Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/13whamtv/?hl=en
13WHAM on TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@13wham?lang=en
13 WHAM Daily Local News Digest: https://www.youtube.com/playlist?list=PLuTJB6tta5ar3Fu5CumAvlvVunEP6bc9A
For more information, visit https://13wham.com/
Have a news tip? Send it directly to us:
Email us: news@13wham.com
Call the Newsroom: (585) 334-8700
WHAM is a NY based station and a ABC Television affiliate owned and operated by Deerfield Media, Inc and receives certain services from an affiliation of Sinclair Broadcast Group. Sinclair Broadcast Group, Inc. is one of the largest and most diversified television broadcasting companies in the country today.
#13WHAM #News #Rochester #NewYork
