New Delhi, Oct 10 (NVI) The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has started an investigation into the hijacking attempt of flydubai flight number 1073 in the Saudi airspace on September 30, which was averted by the Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar.
The Indian federal anti-terror investigative agency is empowered to probe terror cases on foreign soil if the incident involves Indian citizens, which in this case involves Smit Machchhar.
The NIA has registered a case under section 6 of the anti-hijacking act, 2016 and sections of unlawful activities prevention act or UAPA to probe a “larger conspiracy”, officials said.
“On September 30, it was reported that the Omani first officer of flydubai flight number 1073, piloted by Indian national Captain Smit Machchhar, stabbed the captain during the flight in an apparent attempt to hijack or cause it to crash. As a result of the attack, captain Smit Machchhar sustained deep cuts to his head and hands,” the first information report (FIR) filed by NIA on Friday states.
The first officer, an Omani pilot Hamam al-Hammami, allegedly stabbed Machchhar during the flight “in an apparent attempt to hijack or crash the plane but was overwhelmed and restrained by passengers and crew”.
The act involves “commission of offences against an Indian national – Machchhar”, the FIR states.
The FIR says Machchhar sustained deep cuts to the head and hands as a result of the attack.
“..and whereas the Indian government is of the opinion that a scheduled offence under the NIA act has been committed and the case is related to attack on an Indian national with an apparent attempt to hijack or crash the plane flydubai flight 1073 on September 30, and having regard to the gravity of the offence, its grave national and international ramifications, and the need to unearth the larger conspiracy, the matter requires investigation by NIA,” it further said.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu hailed the Indian pilot Smit Machchhar for averting a “9/11-type tragedy”. Israel has even announced the Presidential award for civilian heroism. (NVI)
