Washington, October 7, 2026 (Yes Punjab News)
Three US lawmakers have introduced a bipartisan House resolution honouring Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions in fighting off an attack in the cockpit of a Flydubai flight and helping ensure the safety of around 174 people aboard.
Representatives Josh Gottheimer, Michael McCaul and Don Bacon introduced House Resolution 1612 on October 5. The measure condemns the September 30 attack on Flydubai Flight 1073 as an act of terrorism and calls for a full and expeditious investigation by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
The resolution has been referred to the House Foreign Affairs Committee.
According to the measure, Flight 1073 departed Dubai International Airport for Ben Gurion Airport in Tel Aviv with about 174 passengers, most of them Israeli citizens. Four US citizens and 27 children were also aboard.
The resolution states that midway through the flight, the first officer attacked Machchhar on the flight deck with the aircraft’s emergency crash axe and attempted to seize control of the aircraft.
The aircraft subsequently lost more than 14,000 feet of altitude in less than 30 seconds.
Despite suffering serious injuries, Machchhar fought off the attack, the resolution says. He then used his remaining strength to unlock the cockpit door, allowing off-duty pilots to enter the flight deck and assist in landing the aircraft.
Crew members and passengers subsequently restrained the first officer. The aircraft landed safely at Tabuk Airport in Saudi Arabia, with all passengers and crew accounted for.
The resolution cites an October 3 announcement by the UAE Attorney General stating that an Emirati investigation had determined that the first officer had attempted to carry out a terrorist act.
The lawmakers’ measure seeks formal recognition of Machchhar’s actions, describing them as extraordinary courage in protecting those aboard the aircraft. It also commends the off-duty pilots, cabin crew and passengers who helped secure the flight deck and bring the aircraft safely to the ground.
The resolution further wishes Machchhar and others injured in the incident a full recovery and condemns the attack as an act of terrorism and an assault on the safety of international civil aviation.
It calls on Saudi Arabia and the UAE to conduct a full and expeditious investigation and urges that the United States and Israel be kept fully informed of the findings.
The presence of four US citizens on the flight also gives Washington a direct interest in the investigation, while the measure places the incident before Congress as an international aviation security issue.
As a simple House resolution, H.Res. 1612 expresses the position or sentiment of the House and does not require passage by the Senate or the President’s signature.
FOLLOW NOW
