New Delhi, Oct. 11 -- 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. NIA is empowered to investigate terror cases on foreign soil if the incident involves Indian citizens -- in this case Smit Machchhar. "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 first information report (FIR) filed by NIA on Friday states. The ministry of home affairs (MHA) asked the NIA to investigate the matter. According to the FIR, flight 1073 had departed from Dubai on September 30 at 7.05 am (GST) with 174 passengers and six crew members and diverted rapidly and turned back into Saudi airspace while flying near the Jordon-Saudi Arabia border at around 9.21 am (GST). The first officer, an Omani pilot Hamam al-Hammami, stabbed Machchhar during the flight "in an apparent attempt to hijack or crash the plane but was overwhelmed and restrained by passengers and crew."...