Brothers tell of pride as rescue helicopter pilot laid to rest in RAK
Hundreds of mourners turned out for the funeral of helicopter pilot Hameed Mohamed Obaid Al Zaabi yesterday after the tragic crash in Ras Al Khaimah last week.
Al Zaabi was among four crew who died when their Agusta 139 rescue helicopter crashed into Jebel Jais on Saturday.
It is thought the aircraft, which was responding to reports of an injured man in the area, spiralled out of control after clipping a cable of the world’s longest zipline.
An investigation into the incident is continuing and the zipline has been shut until further notice.
“We are proud of him and we pray to Almighty Allah to rest his soul in eternal peace and to accept him with the prophets and martyrs,” said one of his brothers, Obaid Al Zaabi.
A second brother, Jassim, said that Hameed, 53, was one of eight children and had left behind four daughters, the eldest of whom was 24.
“He is hailed as a hero to all of us and to the community in Al Salhiyah area,” said Ebraheem, another of his brothers.
Hameed’s funeral took place at the Al Salhiyah mosque in Ras Al Khaimah after maghrib prayer at sunset. Family members carried his body through the crowd before laying him to rest in Al Salhiyah cemetery.
Pilot Saqr Saeed Mohamed Abdullah Al Yamahi, navigator Jasim Abdullah Al Tunaiji and winchman and paramedic Mark Roxburgh also died in the tragedy on January 2.
Since the accident thousands of people have taken to social media to express their shock over the incident.
“They are martyrs, inshallah,” said one.
“We pray to Allah to rest their souls in peace and bestow patience and solace on their families.”
Hameed Al Zaabi, one of eight children and who leaves behind four daughters, was laid to rest in an RAK ceremony