India’s National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case to investigate the attempted hijacking of Flydubai flight FZ1073 in Saudi airspace on September 30. During the incident, Indian Captain Smit Machchhar was attacked mid-air by his Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami. Machchhar resisted the attacker and helped avert a major disaster. Despite serious injuries, he opened the cockpit door, allowing passengers to rush in and restrain the officer. Two off-duty pilots then took over the controls and made an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia.
The federal anti-terror agency has registered the case under Section 6 of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, and relevant provisions of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) directed the NIA to take up the investigation, with officials citing the need to uncover a “larger conspiracy”.
What the NIA FIR says
According to the FIR filed on Friday, the flight left Dubai at 7:05 am on September 30 with 174 passengers and six crew members. At around 9:21 am, as it flew near the Jordan-Saudi Arabia border, the aircraft abruptly changed course and turned back into Saudi airspace.
The FIR identifies the first officer as an Omani national who allegedly stabbed Machchhar during the flight.
“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 FIR states.
The document adds that the co-pilot was “overwhelmed and restrained by passengers and crew”.
Probe into alleged wider plot
The NIA said the case involved offences against an Indian national and needed a central investigation given its gravity and international ramifications.
According to claims surrounding the incident, Hammami allegedly planned a 9/11-style attack. The alleged wider plot, however, remains under investigation.
“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,” the FIR reads.
Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu praised Machchhar for averting what they described as a potential “9/11-type tragedy”. Israel has also announced a Presidential award for civilian heroism for the Indian pilot.
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