Dubai CP visits Indian Flydubai pilot; GCAA hails swift response

Sat, 03 Oct 2026

HH Sheikh Hamdan bin Mohammed bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Crown Prince of Dubai, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Defence, visited the injured flydubai pilot Captain Smit Machchhar at a UAE hospital and lauded his valour. The UAE's General Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) too commended the speed of response of the Indian pilot, and the crew of flydubai flight FZ1073, along with the passengers who contributed to bringing the situation under control.

Etihad's Huda Al Musallami becomes first Emirati woman training captain

Fri, 28 Aug 2026

Etihad Airways has announced that Captain Huda Al Musallami has made national aviation history, becoming the first Emirati woman to qualify as a training captain in the UAE.

Pilot training capacity becomes critical as Saudi aviation expands

Mon, 13 Apr 2026

Saudi Arabia’s aviation sector is expanding as airlines grow fleets and regional connectivity. Narrowbody aircraft orders drive pilot demand, with over 58,000 new pilots needed in the Middle East, including significant demand from Saudi Arabia, according to Boeing Pilot and Technician Outlook