New Delhi, Oct. 10 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has registered a case under the Anti-Hijacking and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act to investigate the September 30 mid-air cockpit attack on Indian national pilot Captain Smit Machchhar by an Omani first officer aboard a flydubai flight FZ1073 in an apparent attempt to hijack or cause it to crash.

The anti-terror agency registered the case (RC-34/2026/NIA/DLI) on October 9 following a direction from the Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) for a thorough investigation into the incident, citing its gravity, national and international ramifications, and the need to uncover the larger conspiracy.

The case was registered under the relevant provisions of the Bharatiya Nagarik Surak...