Stories
US House Honours Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar for Heroism During Flydubai Cockpit Attack
- •The US House of Representatives introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his extraordinary bravery during a mid-air attack on Flydubai Flight 1073.
- •The resolution formally condemns the cockpit attack as an act of terrorism and calls for a full investigation by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
- •On September 30, the co-pilot attacked Machchhar with an emergency crash axe, causing the plane to lose over 14,000 feet of altitude in seconds.
- •Despite serious injuries, Machchhar unlocked the cockpit door, allowing off-duty pilots, crew, and passengers to restrain the attacker and safely land the aircraft in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia.
- •The UAE confirmed the incident was a terrorist attempt, and the Federation of Indian Pilots has sought a national bravery award for Captain Machchhar.
Key Questions Answered
The US House introduced a bipartisan resolution honoring Captain Smit Machchhar and the crew of Flydubai Flight 1073 for their extraordinary courage during a mid-air attack on September 30, 2026, when the co-pilot assaulted Machchhar in the cockpit with an emergency crash axe.
Despite suffering serious injuries after the co-pilot attacked him with an emergency crash axe, Captain Machchhar managed to resist the assault and unlock the cockpit door, enabling off-duty pilots, cabin crew, and passengers to restrain the attacker and safely land the plane in Saudi Arabia.
The resolution condemns the cockpit attack as an act of terrorism and calls for a full, expeditious investigation by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, while requesting that the United States and Israel be kept fully informed.
