The US State Department confirmed on Wednesday that four American citizens were aboard the flydubai flight from Dubai to Tel Aviv that was diverted to Saudi Arabia following an altercation in the cockpit.
“We are working with local authorities and stand ready to provide consular assistance to any and all Americans aboard the flight,” a State Department spokesperson told Anadolu.
The spokesperson said the US Embassy and US Consulate in Jeddah remained in contact with Saudi authorities as they investigated the incident.
“The Trump administration takes seriously our commitment to Americans abroad and stands ready to provide consular assistance,” the spokesperson added.
The flight was diverted after a confrontation inside the cockpit reportedly resulted in the aircraft transmitting a hijacking code before eventually landing in Saudi Arabia.
Flydubai has said that the circumstances and motive behind the altercation remain unclear and are now the subject of a formal investigation.
US President Donald Trump said Wednesday that he had discussed the incident with Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu.
“It seems as though the co-pilot was perhaps a terrorist, or perhaps a whack-job, and he stabbed the pilot,” Trump said.
However, authorities have not publicly established a motive, and the investigation into the incident remains ongoing.