There is another reason why Newt Scamander was visiting Hogwarts.
Applying for a teaching position.
Newt was being considered for the teaching position of "Care of Magical Creatures". Lucius Malfoy wanted to get rid of Hagrid, whom he considered inept, and would have used the Buckbeak incident against Draco as the perfect opportunity. If Hagrid was gone, who would teach the class on Care of Magical Creatures? A good candidate would be Newt Scamander, the author of widely used textbook on magical creatures.
Just between us and the rest of the internet, I don't think Malfoy would want Newt teaching at Hogwarts either. Newt just didn't have the mindset that Malfoy liked.
There is a YouTube video that mentions this theory. It also mentions the other theories that it was an Easter Egg requested by J K Rowling herself, and that he was at Hogwarts to save Buckbeak.
Note: I am not a believer of this hypothesis. Just presenting it as a possible motive so the answers are more complete.