Vance Says U.S. Eyeing Bigger Question In Israel Hijacker Attack

Vice President JD Vance said Monday that the Trump administration is reviewing how U.S. aviation screens out people who pose a risk before they reach a cockpit, after an attack aboard a Flydubai flight bound for Israel. Speaking with Daily Wire White House correspondent Mary Margaret Olohan, Vance argued the co-pilot suspected in the assault had a history that should have kept him out of the job, though he said American intelligence had not flagged him. Vance added that officials are looking at whether Iran played a role but that he has seen nothing conclusive, deferring to CIA Director John Ratcliffe and intelligence officials on any announcement.

President Donald Trump raised the possibility of an Iranian link on Thursday, citing what he was hearing, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu called it too early to say and described the pilot as having undergone Islamist radical indoctrination.

The incident involved Flydubai Flight FZ1073, a Boeing 737 Max 8 carrying 174 people, 27 of them children. About 90 minutes before landing, Omani co-pilot Hamam al-Hammami, 29, allegedly struck the captain with the cockpit crash axe. The captain opened the cockpit door, and passengers and crew subdued the attacker.

Summarized by PolitiKool from Daily Wire’s reporting. Read the full story at Daily Wire →