US House honors Indian pilot for stopping cockpit attack on Dubai-Tel Aviv flight

The US House of Representatives passed a resolution honoring Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar for his actions during an attempted terrorist attack on Flydubai Flight 1073 from Dubai to Tel Aviv, condemning the September 30 incident. The resolution stated that the first officer attacked Machchhar with an emergency crash axe mid-flight, causing the plane to lose over 14,000 feet in under 30 seconds. Machchhar fought off the attack, unlocked the cockpit door, and allowed off-duty pilots to land the aircraft safely in Saudi Arabia. The UAE Attorney General determined the attack was a terrorist act, and the resolution commends the crew and passengers for their bravery. The Indian Embassy reported Machchhar is recovering steadily, while Australian and New Zealand authorities are investigating the co-pilot's links to those countries.