Fujairah Police. Picture for illustrative purposes only. ARCHIVE

A plane crash off the coast of Fujairah has killed the pilot, while a flight student onboard the aircraft still unaccounted for. The UAE’s General Authority of Civil Aviation (GCAA) confirmed the accident on Tuesday (November 12), identifying the victim as a flight instructor onboard a training aircraft. Authorities are now intensifying efforts to locate the missing student and any remaining wreckage in the surrounding area. The incident unfolded when the training aircraft, carrying both the instructor and a trainee of foreign nationality, took off on a routine training flight. Approximately 20 minutes after takeoff, the aircraft lost radar contact, setting off alarms. Rescue teams were immediately deployed after the GCAA received a report regarding the missing aircraft. The pilot's body was later recovered on Fujairah’s shores, though the aircraft and the student pilot remain missing. GCAA officials stated, "Our thoughts are with the family and loved ones of the instructor who lost his life in this tragic accident. We are working closely with relevant authorities to ensure the rescue operation proceeds as swiftly and safely as possible.” Search and rescue teams are covering a vast area of land and sea near the crash site, but no further details regarding the aircraft’s last known position have been released. Local rescue teams and international aviation authorities are investigating the cause of the crash. While the GCAA has yet to provide an official statement on potential causes, the authority has confirmed that a full inquiry is underway.
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