India, Oct. 10 -- The National Investigation Agency (NIA) has launched a probe in the hijacking attempt of flydubai flight number 1073 in the Saudi airspace on September 30, which was averted by the Indian pilot, Captain Smit Machchhar, people familiar with the development said on Saturday.

The federal anti-terror agency has registered a case under section 6 of the anti-hijacking act, 2016 and sections of unlawful activities prevention act or UAPA to probe a "larger conspiracy", officials said. It is empowered to investigate terror cases on foreign soil if the incident involves Indian citizens, which in this case involves Smit Machchhar.

"On September 30, it was reported that the Omani first officer of flydubai flight number 1073, pilot...