Saudi Arabia is investigating an attack on the pilot of a Flydubai plane, and Trump threatens Iran with a strong strike

The Saudi Ministry of Interior confirmed that the initial investigations into the Flydubai incident, carried out by the competent authorities in the country with the participation of a security team from the Emirates, indicated that there was an assault on the pilot of the plane by his co-pilot, which resulted in both of them sustaining injuries.

An official source at the Ministry stated, in a statement yesterday, that the competent authorities initiated the necessary procedures with the emergency situation that was declared on the Flydubai flight, and granted it permission to make an emergency landing in Tabuk on Wednesday.

The source explained that the plane landed safely with 174 passengers on board, in addition to the flight crew consisting of 8 individuals, and all of them were provided with the necessary care, indicating that all passengers completed their journey with an alternative plane via “Fly Dubai.” The statement added that the flight crew returned to Dubai on another plane of the same airline, except for the pilot and his assistant, who were taken to the hospital to receive treatment, and then left Saudi Arabia heading to Abu Dhabi yesterday morning, accompanied by the Emirati security team.

The Iranian Foreign Ministry said, in a statement on Thursday, that Tehran asked Iraq to take steps to lift restrictions imposed on flights due to US sanctions, and return air traffic to normal.

The request came after the suspension of flights between the two countries, in light of US sanctions restricting the provision of services to Iranian airlines.

US President Donald Trump on Thursday threatened Iran with a “very strong strike” if its involvement in the attack on the pilot of a Flydubai plane was confirmed mid-flight, adding that he believed this hypothesis was likely.

In response to a question posed by a journalist about whether the United States would respond if Tehran was proven responsible, Trump said that the Iranians “will take a very strong blow.”

During a chat with reporters at the White House, Trump said that he believes Iran is involved, without announcing a decisive position.

He added: “I say the answer is yes, based on what I hear, but we are working on this matter at this very moment.”

In an interview with Time magazine published Thursday, Trump spoke of a “possible” intensification of attacks against Iran after the midterm elections scheduled for early November.

According to the Wall Street Journal, the Pentagon will send an aircraft carrier and other ships to the region, as part of reinforcements numbering between nine thousand and ten thousand military personnel expected to arrive by the end of November.

Currently, the United States has two aircraft carriers deployed in the Middle East, and it is not clear whether the number will increase to three, or will remain as it is with the replacement of one of the two ships.