No barriers for UAE fighter pilot Major Mariam Al Mansouri

Mariam graduated from Abu Dhabi's Khalifa bin Zayed Air College in 2006 and is a veteran pilot of F-16 warplanes.

Major Mariam Al Mansouri had to wait 10 long years to join the UAE airforce, but she was among the first pilots to lead the campaign against Daesh, pounding the terror group in Syria. Her exploits with a squadron of F-16 fighter jets were trending on social media before Deputy Chief Reporter Asma Ali Zain confirmed the raids on terrorist positions by the fighter pilot. Indeed, she was flying high as terror groups on the ground were being scattered in relentless attacks by the UAE Air Force during the early days of the campaign.
"I had to prove myself to my male colleagues by just being determined, and showing that I can perform as skillfully as the males in this field," said Major Mariam. Before fighting terrorists, she said she had to fight prejudice from her male colleagues. Now that she has broken barriers, she's ready for more sorties against terrorist positions.
In an interview to CNN earlier, Major Mariam said she thought that she had broken barriers. "It was a dream.it was something impossible that came true. "As in every culture, whenever a woman enters a male-dominated field, they find the same hesitation, same prejudice and same stereotypical thinking."
Mariam graduated from Abu Dhabi's Khalifa bin Zayed Air College in 2006 and is a veteran pilot of F-16 warplanes.
She also said Emirati women were going places. "I can see women working in different fields including which they did not use to.and they are very successful."
Major Mariam's participation in the raid earlier stirred a debate on social media networks, with supporters posting her picture on Twitter and commending her service.
Mariam Al Mansouri was trending online on Twitter. "This news has given us more hope that we have equal braveness! Thanks to UAE for such confident surprise," wrote a Twitter user.
"Major Marium Mansouri, one of UAE's fighter pilots targeting Daesh, is my new heroine," wrote another.