New Delhi: India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case over an alleged attempt to hijack or crash a Flydubai passenger aircraft after its Omani first officer reportedly attacked Indian captain Smit Machchhar inside the cockpit during a flight on September 30.
The case has been registered under Section 3 of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, and provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967 (UAPA), according to the first information report (FIR).
The central government directed the NIA to investigate the incident, citing the seriousness of the alleged assault on an Indian pilot and the potential threat to passengers and crew aboard the aircraft.
Attack Reported During Dubai Flight
Flydubai flight FZ1073 departed Dubai on September 30 carrying 174 passengers and six crew members. Captain Machchhar, an Indian national, was operating the aircraft alongside an Omani first officer when the alleged incident occurred.
According to the FIR, the first officer allegedly stabbed Machchhar inside the cockpit. The captain suffered deep cuts to his head and hands during the reported assault.
The complaint states that the incident raised concerns about a possible attempt to seize control of the aircraft or deliberately cause it to crash. However, investigators have yet to establish the motive behind the alleged attack.
Passengers and crew members reportedly intervened and restrained the co-pilot. Other pilots aboard the aircraft then assumed control and diverted the flight to Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk, north-western Saudi Arabia.
The aircraft landed safely at approximately 10:45 am Gulf Standard Time. Saudi authorities arrested the Omani first officer following the landing.
Centre Directs NIA to Investigate
The FIR states that the central government reviewed information about the incident and determined that the alleged offences warranted an investigation under the anti-hijacking and anti-terrorism legal framework.
The Anti-Hijacking Act and the UAPA are among the laws cited in the case. The alleged offences fall within the categories covered by the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, according to the FIR.
The government invoked Sections 6(5) and 6(8), read with Section 8 of the NIA Act, to direct the agency to register the case and begin its investigation.
The NIA is India’s principal federal agency for investigating terrorism-related offences and other cases falling within its statutory jurisdiction.
The investigation is expected to examine the circumstances of the cockpit confrontation, the alleged actions of the first officer and whether the incident involved any broader criminal conspiracy.
At this stage, the FIR does not establish a motive or identify additional individuals as participants in a conspiracy. The allegations remain subject to investigation.
Captain Machchhar Recovering After Surgery
Meanwhile, the Ministry of External Affairs has provided an update on Machchhar’s medical condition, saying he was recovering following an operation at a hospital in Abu Dhabi.
MEA spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal said the captain was responding well to treatment during a media briefing last Wednesday.
“According to the information that we have, his health is improving, and after operation, he is in the stage of recuperation. He is responding well,” Jaiswal said.
India’s ambassador to the UAE, Deepak Mittal, visited Machchhar in hospital on October 1. At the time, the ambassador also indicated that the captain was recovering well.
The Indian Embassy in the UAE has remained in contact with Machchhar’s family, medical team, hospital authorities and local officials to monitor his condition and provide assistance.
Investigation Continues Across Jurisdictions
The incident involves an international flight, an alleged assault inside the cockpit and the arrest of a foreign national by Saudi authorities. The NIA’s investigation will seek to establish the facts surrounding the incident and determine the nature of the alleged offences under Indian law.
Further details about the motive, evidence gathered and the legal proceedings involving the arrested first officer have not been established in the information contained in the FIR.
For now, the investigation remains focused on the alleged cockpit attack, the circumstances that led to the emergency landing and the potential criminal implications of the incident.
