--- title: "US House honours pilot Smit Machchhar for averting flydubai flight attack" publication: "MediaBias News" url: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-house-honours-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-averting-flydubai-flight-attack" api: "https://mediabias.news/api/v1/stories/us-house-honours-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-averting-flydubai-flight-attack" markdown: "https://mediabias.news/politics/us-house-honours-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-averting-flydubai-flight-attack.md" audio: "https://mediabias.news/api/audio/us-house-honours-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-averting-flydubai-flight-attack" category: "Politics" published: "2026-10-06T17:45:57.622Z" source_reported: "2026-10-06T17:02:28.000Z" updated: "2026-10-06T17:45:57.622Z" trust_score: 70 critic_score: 70 hype_score: 20 assessment_type: "coverage-and-source-reporting-analysis" fact_check_status: "not-performed" coverage_measured: "2026-10-06T18:30:10.288515+00:00" --- # US House honours pilot Smit Machchhar for averting flydubai flight attack *A resolution commends the Indian pilot and others for their actions during an alleged hijacking attempt.* **Scores for the source reporting** (0-100, assessing the original journalism this article was written from, not this write-up): - Trust 70 of 100, higher is better. Central claim attributed to named body, two independent outlets cited, and specific date and location provided. - Craft 70 of 100, higher is better. Reporting includes quotes from affected parties and names specific individuals and locations. - Hype 20 of 100, lower is better. Language is measured and proportionate, with a factual headline and no sensationalism. Scored by MediaBias News; method at https://mediabias.news/methodology. **The short version** - US Congressman Josh Gottheimer introduced a resolution in the House of Representatives honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar. - The resolution addresses an incident on flydubai Flight FZ1073, describing it as an act of terrorism and an attack on international aviation safety. - Machchhar was seriously injured during the alleged attack, which caused the aircraft to descend more than 17,000 feet. - Two reserve pilots landed the aircraft safely in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, after which the co-pilot was taken into custody. A resolution was introduced in the US House of Representatives to honour Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his actions during an incident on flydubai Flight FZ1073. The resolution, introduced by Congressman Josh Gottheimer, describes the event as an act of terrorism and an attack on the safety of international civil aviation. The flight was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv. During the flight, Machchhar was allegedly attacked by his co-pilot, identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami. Machchhar sustained serious injuries, and the aircraft descended more than 17,000 feet from an altitude of about 34,000 feet. The resolution states that Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers and off-duty pilots to help overpower the attacker. Two reserve pilots then took control of the aircraft and landed it safely at Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia. Al-Hammami was taken into custody following the landing. Machchhar was taken to a hospital and later airlifted to Abu Dhabi for further treatment. ## Disagreement on resolution introduction date Latestly and Tribune India report that the resolution was introduced on October 5. The Economic Times and CNBC-TV18 state the resolution was introduced on Monday, without specifying the date. Social News XYZ and PressNewsAgency state October 6. ## What the coverage left out None of the left-rated reports mentioned the incident. The right-rated reports did not include details about the specific altitude from which the aircraft descended, nor did they mention the involvement of specific off-duty pilots, cabin crew, and passengers in overpowering the attacker, as detailed in the centre-rated report. ## Who covered it Shares of the 9 covering outlets with a published leaning rating: - Left: 0% (0) - Centre: 22% (2) - Right: 78% (7) 10 of 19 covering outlets carried no usable leaning rating and were excluded from those percentages. Coverage measured 2026-10-06T18:30:10.288515+00:00. **Coverage watch:** developing. Checked 6 times; 0 checks found a material change. Most recently checked 2026-10-06T19:15:07.932Z. ## How the sides framed it ### Left No separate framing summary. ### Centre - The Economic Times led on the US House resolution honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for foiling a flydubai cockpit attack. Its report detailed Machchhar's injuries and the subsequent safe landing of the aircraft. It noted the co-pilot was identified as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami and mentioned reports of his prior grounding over radical ideological views. The report also stated that the resolution called for investigations by Saudi Arabia and the UAE, and for the US and Israel to be kept informed. ### Right - Reports from the right-rated outlets focused on the US House resolution honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for thwarting an attempted terror attack on flydubai Flight 1073. These reports highlighted Machchhar's courage and the condemnation of the incident as an act of terrorism. Several outlets identified the co-pilot as Omani national Hamam al-Hammami and mentioned reports citing his radical ideological views as a reason for being barred from flying in Oman. The safe landing of the aircraft by reserve pilots and the subsequent custody of al-Hammami were also noted. Some reports mentioned that the resolution has been referred to the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. **Provisional coverage gap:** left. The watch is not closed, so this is not yet a settled blindspot finding. ## Factuality profile of the covering outlets These are published factuality ratings of the outlets, not a verdict on whether this story or its claims are true. - mixed: 5 - high: 3 - unknown: 10 - veryHigh: 1 ## Verification scope This page compares coverage and scores the source reporting. It is not a ClaimReview verdict on whether the underlying event or claim is true. ## Original reporting this was written from - [News Nation](https://newsnationtv.com/world/us-parliament-honours-captain-smit-machhar-in-flydubai-terror-attack-12630586) — US Congress Passes Resolution Honoring Captain Machhar, Praising Him for Preventing Terrorist Attacks - [Hindustan Times](https://hindustantimes.com/world-news/us-house-honours-extraordinary-courage-of-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-after-flydubai-attack-101791303435643.html) — US House honours ‘extraordinary courage’ of Smit Machchhar after flydubai attack - [TV9 Kannada](https://tv9kannada.com/world/us-house-introduced-resolution-honouring-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-condemns-flydubai-attack-1247359.html) — US Congress Honors Indian Pilot Smith Machar; Passes Resolution Condemning Plane Hijack Attempt - [India TV Hindi Hindi](https://indiatv.in/world/us/us-house-of-representatives-introduces-resolution-honouring-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-who-foiled-the-terrorist-attack-on-flight-2026-10-06-1247340) — US House Introduces Resolution Honoring Captain Smith Machhar, Praising Him for Extraordinary Courage - India TV Hindi - [Latestly](https://latestly.com/agency-news/world-news-us-house-bill-honours-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-thwarting-attempted-terror-attack-on-flydubai-flight-7635247.html) — US House Bill Honours Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar for Thwarting Attempted Terror Attack on Flydubai Flight - [India TV News](https://indiatvnews.com/news/world/us-house-introduces-resolution-honouring-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-condemns-act-of-terrorism-latest-updates-2026-10-06-1056256) — US House introduces resolution honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar, condemns 'act of terrorism' - [Amar Ujala](https://amarujala.com/world/us-house-introduces-resolution-to-honor-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-foiling-terror-attack-2026-10-06) — Indian Pilot Smit Honored in America for His Presence of Mind During the Terrorist Attack; Resolution Presented in the House of Representatives - [The Economic Times](https://m.economictimes.com/news/india/us-house-resolution-honours-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-foiling-flydubai-cockpit-attack/articleshow/134745077.cms) — US House resolution honours Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for foiling flydubai cockpit attack - [Tribune India](https://tribuneindia.com/news/usa-news/us-house-bill-honours-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-thwarting-attempted-terror-attack-on-flydubai-flight) — US House bill honours Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for thwarting attempted terror attack on flydubai flight - The Tribune - [Mathrubhumi](https://english.mathrubhumi.com/news/india/us-lawmaker-honours-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-house-resolution-flydubai-attack-nz00774s) — ‘Extraordinary courage’: US lawmaker introduces House resolution honouring pilot Smit Machchhar - [bhaskarlive.in](https://bhaskarlive.in/international/us-house-resolution-honours-brave-indian-pilot-capt-machchhar-2149498) — US House resolution honours brave Indian pilot Capt Machchhar - [The CSR Journal](https://thecsrjournal.in/us-congress-moves-to-honour-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-averting-flydubai-attack) — US Congress Moves to Honour Pilot Smit Machchhar for Averting Flydubai Attack - [KalingaTV](https://kalingatv.com/world/us-lawmakers-introduce-resolution-honouring-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-foiling-flydubai-terror-attack) — US Lawmakers Introduce Resolution Honouring Indian Pilot Smit Machchhar for Foiling Flydubai Terror Attack - [India Today](https://indiatoday.in/world/us-news/story/us-congress-to-honour-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-who-foiled-flydubai-terror-attack-3011098-2026-10-06) — US Congress moves to honour Indian pilot Smit Machchhar who foiled flydubai attack - [CNBC-TV18](https://cnbctv18.com/world/us-lawmaker-introduces-house-resolution-honouring-indian-pilot-smit-machchhar-20006040.htm) — US lawmaker introduces House resolution honouring Indian pilot Smit Machchhar - [Social News XYZ](https://socialnews.xyz/2026/10/06/us-house-resolution-honours-brave-indian-pilot-capt-machchhar) — US House resolution honours brave Indian pilot Capt Machchhar - [Times of India](https://timesofindia.indiatimes.com/world/us/us-house-passes-resolution-honouring-indian-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-condemns-act-of-terrorism/articleshow/134743518.cms) — US House passes resolution honouring Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar, condemns 'act of terrorism' - [PressNewsAgency](https://pressnewsagency.org/us-house-passes-resolution-honouring-indian-flydubai-pilot-smit-machchhar-condemns-act-of-terrorism) — US House passes resolution honouring Indian flydubai pilot Smit Machchhar, condemns ‘act of terrorism’ - [Jewish Insider](https://jewishinsider.com/2026/10/bipartisan-house-resolution-flydubai-hijacking-pilot-passengers) — Bipartisan House resolution honors pilot, passengers who stopped FlyDubai hijacking ## Questions **What was the incident involving flydubai Flight FZ1073?** The incident involved an alleged attempt by the co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, to take control of the aircraft. Pilot Smit Machchhar was seriously injured while trying to prevent this. The aircraft descended rapidly before reserve pilots landed it safely. **What is the significance of the US House resolution?** The resolution honours Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for his actions and condemns the incident as an act of terrorism and an attack on international aviation safety. It also commends the efforts of the crew and passengers. **What happened to the co-pilot and the injured pilot?** The co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, was taken into custody after the aircraft landed. Pilot Smit Machchhar, who was seriously injured, received hospital treatment and was later airlifted to Abu Dhabi. --- MediaBias News — https://mediabias.news. Reproduced from https://mediabias.news/politics/us-house-honours-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-averting-flydubai-flight-attack. Please cite as: MediaBias News, "US House honours pilot Smit Machchhar for averting flydubai flight attack", https://mediabias.news/politics/us-house-honours-pilot-smit-machchhar-for-averting-flydubai-flight-attack