The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a probe in 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 , people familiar with the development said on Saturday.
It is empowered to investigate terror cases on foreign soil if the incident involves Indian citizens, which in this case involves Smit Machchhar.
The federal anti-terror agency 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.
“..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. Officials who did not want to be named said that they will take case details and investigation help from the UAE, Saudi Arabia and Israeli authorities as well as flydubai.
