An Indian-origin doctor was among two people killed in a tragic light aircraft crash off the coast of Ras Al Khaimah on December 26. The victim, 26-year-old Sulaymaan Al Majid, was born and raised in the UAE. His father, Majid Mukarram, reported that the crash occurred shortly after takeoff, near the Cove Rotana Hotel, at around 2 pm.

The crash also claimed the life of the pilot, a 26-year-old Pakistani woman. The General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) has confirmed the incident, stating that investigations are underway to determine the cause. The aircraft was owned by Jazirah Aviation Club, according to Khaleej Times.

Sulaymaan had rented the light aircraft for a sightseeing trip, with his family—his father, mother, and younger brother—present at the aviation club to watch the experience. His younger brother was set to board the next flight.

Majid recounted the events leading up to the tragic loss. “Initially, we were told the glider had lost radio contact. Later, we were informed it had made an emergency landing and that the passengers had been taken to the hospital. When we reached the hospital, we were told both were critically injured and undergoing resuscitation efforts. Sulaymaan passed away before we could see him, and his time of death was recorded as after 4:30 pm,” he said, sharing the family’s devastation. The family had been eagerly looking forward to celebrating the New Year together.

Majid described Sulaymaan as the light of their lives and expressed their deep sorrow at the uncertainty of life without him.

Sulaymaan worked as a clinical fellow at the County Durham and Darlington NHS Foundation Trust in the UK. He was also active in the British Medical Association, serving first as honorary secretary and later as co-chair of the Northern Resident Doctors Committee. Sulaymaan was an advocate for issues like pay restoration and the reclassification of “junior doctors” to “resident doctors.”