International assessments are converging on a clear conclusion: a senior UAE official addressed the investigation into the attempted downing of Flydubai flight FZ1073 this evening (Thursday), revealing that—while absolute certainty has not yet been reached—the prevailing intelligence assessment is that the Ayatollah regime in Iran is behind the attack. The official disclosed a significant regional security cooperation arrangement, under which the Omani co-pilot will be transferred for a joint interrogation involving the UAE, Saudi Arabia, and Israel.
According to the Emirati official, the investigation into the attempted attack is entering a new phase, shifting from the airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, to the UAE. The suspected Omani co-pilot—whose subdual by passengers saved the lives of 174 Israelis—will soon be transferred to the Emirates, where he will be interrogated in a joint operation involving Emirati, Saudi, and Israeli investigators. Meanwhile, the Indian captain, Smith Machachar—who was stabbed in the neck but managed to open the locked cockpit door—has already been transferred from the hospital in Saudi Arabia to the UAE for continued treatment. The tripartite investigation will focus on examining the co-pilot’s background, communications, and contacts before boarding the aircraft, to conclusively determine whether he acted as a “lone wolf” inspired by extremist ideology or was directly activated and briefed by external actors. “There is no 100% certainty yet,” the senior official clarified, “but as the investigation deepens, the assessment that Tehran was involved in the incident is gaining strength.”
These points are further reinforced by the extraordinary statement made this evening by U.S. President Donald Trump, who confirmed that intelligence reaching his desk points to a direct Iranian link: “Based on what I hear—the answer is yes, but we are currently looking into it.” Trump also issued a direct military threat against Tehran, making it clear that if its involvement is proven, the United States “will strike them with great force. They will be hit very hard; they know what has happened before.”
At the same time, the U.S. President clarified that Washington views the fate of Tehran as inextricably linked to that of its proxy organizations—foremost among them Hezbollah: “The fate of the proxies is the fate of Iran; wherever Iran goes, its affiliates go too.”