A light aircraft crash near Ras Al Khaimah on Thursday, December 26, claimed the lives of 26-year-old Indian doctor Sulaymaan Al Majid and a 29-year-old Pakistani pilot. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed the accident and stated that investigations are ongoing to determine the cause.
Dr. Sulaymaan, who was born and raised in the UAE, had hired the aircraft for a sightseeing trip. His family, including his parents and younger brother, were present at the Jazirah Aviation Club to watch his flight. Tragically, the crash occurred shortly after takeoff near the Cove Rotana Hotel. Sulaymaan’s younger brother was scheduled to take the next flight.
“We were initially told the glider had lost radio contact,” his father, Majid Mukarram, recounted. “Later, we were informed that it made an emergency landing, and the occupants were taken to the hospital. By the time we reached, Sulaymaan had already passed away.”
Sulaymaan, a clinical fellow at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, was a respected medical professional and advocate. He served as Co-Chair of the Northern Resident Doctors Committee of the British Medical Association, where he championed causes like pay restoration for junior doctors.
The family, based in Sharjah, is devastated by the loss. “Sulaymaan was the light of our lives. We were looking forward to the New Year as a family, and now everything has changed,” said Majid.
The pilot, whose identity has not been disclosed, was also critically injured and succumbed to her injuries at the hospital.
Sulaymaan’s funeral was held at Al Ghusai graveyard in Sharjah. His younger brother shared the tragic news on social media, requesting privacy during this difficult time.
The GCAA has launched a detailed investigation into the crash, offering condolences to the victims’ families. This incident follows another aviation accident in the UAE last month, underscoring the importance of ongoing aviation safety reviews.
