Pakistani Pilot and Indian Doctor Killed in UAE Plane Crash
A tragic crash off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah on December 26 claimed the lives of Pakistani pilot and her companion, 26-year-old Indian doctor Sulaymaan Al Majid. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed the incident on Sunday and has launched an investigation to determine the cause.
According to Sulaymaan’s father, Majid Mukarram, the crash occurred shortly after takeoff near the Cove Rotana Hotel at 2 pm, as Sulaymaan had hired the aircraft for sightseeing. His family had gathered at the aviation club to watch his flight, with his younger brother scheduled for the next one.
Initially, the family was informed that the aircraft had lost radio contact. They later learned the plane had made an emergency landing, and the two occupants were rushed to the hospital. Sulaymaan’s father recalls being told that both were critically injured and undergoing resuscitation efforts. Sulaymaan was pronounced dead around 4:30 pm.
The loss has devastated the family. “We were planning to celebrate the New Year together, but instead, our lives have been shattered,” Majid said. Sulaymaan was a clinical fellow at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the UK and had been actively involved in medical advocacy, including serving as Honorary Secretary and Co-Chair of the Northern Resident Doctors Committee.
Sulaymaan, a graduate of Dubai Scholars School, was remembered for his bright and ambitious personality. His family is preparing for his funeral, scheduled for Sunday at Al Ghusai graveyard. The family has requested privacy during this difficult time.
The GCAA has stated its Air Accident Investigation Sector is reviewing the crash, with investigations continuing. Authorities have extended condolences to the victims’ families. This incident follows another fatal aviation accident in the UAE last month, where a flight instructor was killed in a training aircraft crash.
