I agree with No-knowledge, because what he/she describes is the primary meaning of the word, 'hero'...ie bravery and the deliberate putting of oneself in danger has to be involved.
At best, the pilot fits the secondary meaning of the word, which is " a person reverenced and idealised", according to Chambers Dictionary. That is precisely what is happening to the man in the media.
He is clearly a super-competent pilot who exercised the skills required perfectly...and with a great deal of luck thrown in. What if there hadn't been a handy river to ditch in? What if the controls had been damaged and he couldn't steer? Plus lots of other such questions.
A brilliant pilot, certainly, but not a hero. I'd almost be prepared to guarantee that this is exactly what he himself thinks.