NIA to seek Centre’s nod to travel to UAE for Captain Smit Machchhar's statement in flydubai probe
The agency may also seek access to the arrested Omani co-pilot – Hamam al-Hammami – for questioning, the officials said.
The National Investigation Agency (NIA) plans to seek permission from the Centre to travel to the UAE for the purpose of obtaining a statement from Indian pilot Smit Machchhar and to interact with local investigators regarding the hijacking attempt on Flydubai flight FZ-1073. The agency may also request access to the arrested Omani co-pilot, Hamam al-Hammami, for questioning.
Machchhar, an Indian citizen, was attacked by al-Hammami during the incident, which took place on September 30. Despite sustaining injuries, Machchhar managed to unlock the cockpit door, allowing passengers and crew to overpower the attacker and force the plane to make an emergency landing in Saudi Arabia. The NIA has invoked provisions of the Anti-Hijacking Act, 2016 and the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) in the case, citing the "larger conspiracy" and the "serious national and international ramifications" of the incident.
Written by urgent.news from Hindustan Times's reporting — not their text. Machine-written — may contain errors; check the original before relying on it.
