Funeral held for Emirati pilot killed in Yemen plane crash
▶ Sultan Mohamed Ali Al Naqbi was set to return to family in Ras Al Khaimah when tragedy struck
An Emirati Air Force pilot who died when his plane crashed in Yemen was laid to rest yesterday in a funeral attended by large crowds of mourners in Ras Al Khaimah.
The body of Second Lt Sultan Mohamed Ali Al Naqbi, 23, arrived at Al Bateen Airport in Abu Dhabi on Monday night.
The General Command of the Armed Forces had announced that the serviceman died in a crash caused by a technical failure of his aircraft.
Further details of the accident were not released but the command said that he had been serving in the Saudi-led Arab coalition’s Operation Restoring Hope.
The coalition is seeking to restore the internationally recognised government in Yemen and defeat the Iran-backed Houthi rebels.
Lt Al Naqbi’s brother said he had been due to leave Yemen and return to the UAE yesterday.
“He told us that he was coming back on Tuesday and he did return, but as a martyr, like he always wanted to be,” said Rashid Al Naqbi, 40.
“He contacted my daughter on WhatsApp on Sunday and checked on her studies. The last message he sent was to our father on Monday morning.
“We are all proud of him and his sacrifice.”
The pilot trained at Khalifa bin Zayed Air College in Al Ain and his family last saw him in July, before his most recent posting to Yemen.
“He always wanted to be a military pilot, it was his goal to do so and to serve his country at the same time,” Mr Al Naqbi said. “He was a funny person loved by all.”
Lt Al Naqbi was unmarried and is survived by five brothers and six sisters.
“It’s heartbreaking knowing that we won’t see him or his smile again but his sacrifice will be remembered for ever, generation after generation,” Mr Al Naqbi said.
His cousin, Bader Al Naqbi, said Lt Al Naqbi was loyal to his country and his family would never forget his kindness
“He was kind to everyone, friendly and respectful,” his cousin said.
“It’s really hard to lose such a person but he gave us pride and died while serving the country that he holds in his heart.
“His heroism and sacrifice is a medal of honour that we will carry close to our hearts. He lived to be a great man and died as a martyr and we are all willing to give our lives to the country in defence of truth and justice.”
Funeral prayers were held at Sheikh Saqr Al Qasimi Mosque in Difta, RAK, and he was buried at Difta cemetery yesterday afternoon.
Lt Al Naqbi was the second soldier to die on Monday after First Sgt Naser Al Mazrouei succumbed to injuries he suffered two years ago in Yemen.
Sgt Al Mazrouei, 31, from Sharjah, had been in a coma since being injured in September 2015 after a rocket attack on an ammunition store for the 107th Brigade.
The attack caused several explosions that resulted in the deaths of 50 Emirati soldiers.
He was being treated for severe brain injuries at Zayed Military Hospital in Abu Dhabi.