26-year-old Indian-origin doctor among 2 killed in UAE plane crash: Report

New Delhi:

An Indian-origin doctor was among two people killed in a light aircraft crash off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah in the United Arab Emirates on Sunday. The General Civil Aviation Authority said in a statement that both the pilot and co-pilot lost their lives in the accident.

Suleiman Al Majid He was the co-pilot of the plane with a 26-year-old Pakistani woman, who also died in the crash.

Suleiman, 26, who was born and raised in the UAE, had chartered the plane for a sightseeing trip with his family. According to reports, his father, mother and younger brother were at the aviation club to watch the flight.

According to reports, Suleman’s younger brother was to take the next flight.

“We were looking forward to the New Year as a family, planning to celebrate together. Instead, our lives have fallen apart. It seems as if time has stopped for us. Suleiman the light of our lives were, and we don’t know how to move forward without him,” Suleiman’s father was quoted as saying by UAE-based newspaper Khaleej Times.

The aviation authority said the crash occurred shortly after takeoff near the beachside Cove Rotana hotel.

The aviation authority said, “Initial reports indicate that the glider lost radio contact and subsequently attempted an emergency landing. Despite resuscitation efforts, both aboard died.”

According to his LinkedIn profile, Suleiman was a clinical fellow at County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the UK. He was actively involved with the British Medical Association (BMA), where he served as Honorary Secretary and later co-chair of the Northern Resident Doctors’ Committee. During his tenure, he focused on advocating for fair pay and promoting the reclassification of “junior doctors” as “resident doctors”.

Aviation authorities have launched an investigation “to determine the cause” of the fatal crash.