New Delhi: The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case into the alleged attack on Indian pilot Captain Smit Machchhar aboard a flydubai flight, after the Centre directed the agency to investigate the incident under anti-hijacking and anti-terrorism laws.
The incident occurred on September 30 aboard flydubai Flight 1073, which was travelling from Dubai to Tel Aviv when the Omani first officer allegedly attacked Machchhar inside the cockpit. The aircraft reportedly plunged sharply before the situation was brought under control and it landed safely at an airport in Tabuk, northwestern Saudi Arabia. Reuters
According to the information cited in the Central Government’s order, the flight departed Dubai at 7.05 am Gulf Standard Time (GST), carrying 174 passengers and six crew members. The aircraft was near the Jordan-Saudi Arabia border when it reportedly made a rapid descent and turned back towards Saudi airspace.
The Centre said the incident involved offences against an Indian national and had serious national and international implications. It directed the NIA to register a case and investigate whether the alleged attack was part of a larger conspiracy.
Omani first officer accused of attacking captain
The government’s account states that passengers reported the Omani first officer attacking Captain Machchhar during the flight in what appeared to be an attempt to hijack the aircraft or cause it to crash.
Machchhar sustained deep cuts to his head and hands, according to the information cited in the government order.
The aircraft reportedly made a sudden descent during the confrontation, prompting an emergency response. The first officer was eventually overpowered and restrained with the assistance of people aboard the plane.
Other flydubai pilots who were travelling on board then took control of the aircraft. They brought it to a safe landing at Prince Sultan bin Abdulaziz Airport in Tabuk at around 10.45 am GST.
Saudi authorities subsequently arrested the first officer, according to the initial information cited in the government order. Later reports have described the case as an alleged attempted terrorist attack, with authorities in the United Arab Emirates announcing further findings into the suspect’s alleged intentions. The investigation into the incident remains significant for aviation security. Associated Press
Centre invokes anti-hijacking law and UAPA
The Central Government said the reported attack disclosed offences under Section 3 of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016, and Section 16 read with Section 15(1)(a) of the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act, 1967.
These offences are scheduled offences under the National Investigation Agency Act, 2008, allowing the matter to be investigated by the central agency under the applicable legal provisions.
The government’s direction was issued under sub-sections 5 and 8 of Section 6, read with Section 8 of the NIA Act.
The invocation of these provisions reflects the seriousness with which the Centre is treating the reported attack. The alleged attempt to seize control of an aircraft or deliberately cause it to crash raises questions beyond the assault on the captain, including the safety of passengers and the possibility of a wider criminal conspiracy.
The government has said the case carries grave national and international ramifications and requires a detailed investigation.
The legal provisions cited in the order establish the framework under which the NIA will investigate. They do not, by themselves, establish the accused first officer’s motive or prove the full circumstances of the incident.
NIA to examine possible wider conspiracy
The NIA investigation is expected to examine the sequence of events inside the cockpit, the circumstances leading up to the alleged assault and the actions taken by the crew and passengers to prevent the situation from escalating.
Investigators are also expected to examine whether the incident involved any wider conspiracy or additional individuals, a question specifically highlighted in the government’s order.
The investigation will need to establish what happened aboard the aircraft, how the reported confrontation developed and whether evidence supports the allegations of an attempted hijacking or deliberate crash.
The government order does not provide a detailed account of the first officer’s motive or explain what may have triggered the confrontation.
The NIA’s inquiry will take place against the backdrop of investigations by authorities in other countries. The flight diverted to Saudi Arabia, while subsequent announcements from the UAE have described the alleged attack as a planned attempt to crash the aircraft at Israel’s Ben Gurion Airport. These allegations form part of the evolving account of the incident and should be distinguished from findings that have been established through the investigation. The Washington Post
Captain Smit Machchhar was injured in the incident
Machchhar, an Indian national, was identified as the captain attacked during the flight. He had joined flydubai in June 2022 after working with Indian airline SpiceJet for nearly 11 years, according to reports published after the incident. Hindustan Times
Reports on the incident said Machchhar managed to help bring the cockpit situation under control despite his injuries. The intervention of other pilots, crew members and passengers helped prevent the confrontation from resulting in a crash.
The aircraft landed safely in Saudi Arabia, and the 174 passengers aboard were reported to have survived the incident.
The episode has drawn international attention because of the alleged attempt to seize control of a commercial aircraft while it was in flight. It has also raised questions about cockpit security and the safeguards intended to prevent violence between flight crew members.
Investigation to establish motive and circumstances
The Centre’s decision to direct the NIA to register a case brings the incident under a formal investigation in India, with particular emphasis on the alleged offences against an Indian national and the possibility of a wider conspiracy.
The investigation will need to establish the circumstances of the reported cockpit attack, examine evidence relating to the aircraft’s sudden descent and determine whether the allegations of an attempted hijacking or crash are supported by the available material.
The government’s order does not disclose a conclusive finding on the motive behind the alleged attack. Nor does the direction to investigate amount to a determination of the accused first officer’s guilt.
For now, the NIA case marks a further step in the official response to the September 30 incident. The findings of the investigation are expected to clarify the sequence of events aboard flydubai Flight 1073 and whether the attack involved a broader conspiracy.