Pakistani pilot among two killed in UAE plane crash

A Pakistani pilot and her companion, 26-year-old Indian doctor Sulaymaan Al Majid, were killed when a light aircraft crashed off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah on Thursday, December 26.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed the incident on Sunday and stated that investigations are underway to determine the cause of the crash, as reported by Khaleej Times.

According to Sulaymaan’s father, Majid Mukarram, the crash occurred shortly after takeoff at 2 pm near the Cove Rotana Hotel, close to the beach. Sulaymaan, who was born and raised in the UAE, had hired the aircraft for sightseeing.

His family, including his father, mother, and younger brother, were at the aviation club to watch his flight. Sulaymaan’s younger brother was scheduled to take the next flight.

Initially, Majid was told that the glider had lost radio contact. He later learned that the aircraft had made an emergency landing and that the occupants were taken to the hospital.

"When we reached the hospital, we were told that both were critically injured and undergoing resuscitation efforts," Majid recalled. "Sulaymaan passed away before we could see him, and his time of death was recorded as past 4:30 pm."

The tragedy has left the family devastated. "We were looking forward to the New Year as a family, planning to celebrate together. Instead, our lives have been shattered. It feels like time has stopped for us. Sulaymaan was the light of our lives, and we don't know how to move forward without him," Majid added.

Sulaymaan was a clinical fellow at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the UK and had been an active member of the British Medical Association.

He had served as the Honorary Secretary and later as the Co-Chair of the Northern Resident Doctors Committee, where he advocated for pay restoration and the reclassification of "junior doctors" to "resident doctors."

The family, based in Sharjah, is preparing for Sulaymaan's funeral, which will take place at Al Ghusai graveyard at 8.15 pm on Sunday. His younger brother shared the tragic news on Instagram, requesting privacy during this difficult time.

Sulaymaan was a graduate of Dubai Scholars School and was remembered as a bright, ambitious individual with a passion for medicine and advocacy.

The GCAA has stated that its Air Accident Investigation Sector has received a report on the crash and that investigation teams and relevant authorities are continuing their work. The GCAA extended its condolences to the families and relatives of the victims.

This crash follows another aviation incident in the UAE last month, in which a flight instructor was killed when a training aircraft lost radar contact 20 minutes after takeoff and crashed. The instructor’s body was later found on the shores of Fujairah.