Qatar Airways flight QR579, en route to Doha Hamad International Airport from New Delhi, had to be diverted to Dubai International Airport on Wednesday, following the sudden death of an off-duty senior pilot aboard.
The pilot, aged 51, was reported to have fallen ill mid-flight and was subsequently declared dead.
The Airbus A350-900, with registration A7-ALM, left New Delhi’s Indira Gandhi International Airport on August 16 and cited a medical emergency as the reason for the diversion, just under 30 minutes from its scheduled arrival in Doha.
The deceased pilot, known for his significant contribution to the aviation industry, started his career with Alliance Air.
In 2005, he joined SpiceJet and was part of the crew that operated its inaugural flight from New Delhi to Ahmedabad.
He began working with Qatar Airways in 2022, mainly flying the Boeing 777 fleet.
Colleagues and the wider aviation community are mourning the loss of the seasoned officer.
The cause of the pilot’s illness remains undisclosed.