The resolution, filed Monday, denounces the flydubai Flight 1073 incident as a terrorist assault on international aviation and urges swift, comprehensive inquiry by Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates.
Captain Smit Machchhar, an Indian national, halted a co‑pilot’s attempt to seize control of the 174‑passenger aircraft. While the jet was cruising 34,000 feet, the co‑pilot—Omani citizen Hamam al‑Hammami—struck Machchhar with a crash axe, leaving him severely wounded.
Despite the attack, Machchhar managed to open the cockpit door, allowing passengers to restrain al‑Hammami. Two reserve pilots diverted the plane to Prince Sultan Bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, Saudi Arabia, where the attacker was detained and Machchhar was air‑lifted to a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
Gottheimer praised the crew’s collective bravery, noting that the flight crew and passengers acted as a unified front to avert disaster. He also urged the United States and Israel to receive timely updates as investigations proceed.
The House resolution is now pending committee review, with lawmakers expected to debate it in the coming weeks. A full report from the Saudi and UAE authorities is anticipated by the end of the month.