NEW DELHI, OCT 10: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has officially registered a case to investigate last month’s violent mid-air cockpit attack targeting Indian national pilot Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a flydubai flight.
The federal agency initiated the formal First Information Report under the provisions of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA), 1967.
According to officials, the incident took place on September 30 on flight FZ1073 traveling from Dubai to Tel Aviv, when the co-pilot allegedly assaulted Captain Machchhar inside the cockpit in an apparent attempt to hijack or crash the aircraft.
Despite sustaining severe injuries during the attack, Captain Machchhar managed to unlatch the cockpit door, enabling crew members and passengers to intervene and subdue the attacker.
The flight was subsequently diverted safely, and the NIA’s newly launched investigation will thoroughly examine the underlying motives, conspiracy links, and complete circumstances surrounding the cockpit security breach.
