Trump blames Iran for flydubai attack; Vance says no proof yet
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Washington: US President Donald Trump blamed Iran for the attempted takeover of a flydubai passenger aircraft, even as Vice President JD Vance said US intelligence had not yet found conclusive evidence connecting Tehran to the incident, Times of India reported.
Trump expressed his belief that Iran was behind the September 30 incident but offered no evidence to substantiate the allegation. Vance, meanwhile, said the administration was relying on intelligence agencies, including CIA Director John Ratcliffe, to establish whether Iran had any role in the attack.
Vance said the possibility of Iranian involvement remained under investigation and that officials had yet to reach a definitive conclusion. His comments contrasted with Trump’s more direct assessment, highlighting the uncertainty surrounding the investigation.
The vice president also raised broader concerns about foreign nationals entering the United States and being permitted to operate aircraft. He argued that authorities needed to apply greater scrutiny when assessing individuals seeking entry and those entrusted with safety-sensitive aviation roles.
Vance linked the issue to the September 11, 2001, terrorist attacks, arguing that failures in screening and immigration controls had previously allowed people who posed security risks to enter the country and operate aircraft.
He further said the suspect in the flydubai incident had previously raised concerns and that US authorities were examining existing procedures to prevent individuals deemed potential flight risks from operating aircraft.
The United Arab Emirates is leading the international investigation into the incident involving a flydubai flight travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. The co-pilot allegedly attacked pilot Smit Machchhar with a knife and attempted to seize control of the aircraft carrying 170 passengers before crew members and passengers intervened and stopped the assault.