Abu Dhabi, UAE: In a tragic accident, a light aircraft crash off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah claimed the lives of 26-year-old Indian-origin doctor Sulaymaan Al Majid and a Pakistani pilot. The aircraft belonged to the Jazirah Aviation Club, and the crash occurred shortly after takeoff.

The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) confirmed the incident and announced that an investigation is underway to determine the cause of the crash. The pilot, a 26-year-old Pakistani woman, also lost her life in the incident.

According to the Khaleej Times, the crash happened near the Cove Rotana Hotel around 2 pm on Sunday. Dr. Sulaymaan Al Majid, a clinical fellow at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the UK, had rented the aircraft for a sightseeing flight, accompanied by the pilot.

Dr. Sulaymaan’s father, Majid Mukarram, shared the heart-wrenching details of the event. The family, including Sulaymaan’s mother and younger brother, had gathered at the aviation club to witness the flight. Initially, they were informed that the aircraft had lost radio contact. Later updates suggested an emergency landing.

“When we reached the hospital, we were told both occupants were in critical condition and undergoing resuscitation,” Majid said. Sadly, Sulaymaan succumbed to his injuries before the family could see him. His passing was recorded shortly after 4:30 pm. The tragedy also caused Sulaymaan's younger brother to cancel his scheduled flight.

Dr. Sulaymaan was widely recognized for his work in the British medical field. As the honorary secretary and later co-chair of the northern resident doctors committee within the British Medical Association, he advocated for the reclassification of "junior doctors" as "resident doctors" and worked towards pay restoration for medical professionals in the UK.

Dr. Sulaymaan Al Majid was laid to rest on Sunday evening at the Al Ghusais Graveyard, leaving behind a legacy of dedication and advocacy that will be deeply missed by the NRI community.