Two victims of Dubai plane crash identified

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Two victims of Dubai plane crash identified

Dubai - Friends and family paid tribute to the pilots on social media.

by

Asma Ali Zain

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Published: Wed 22 May 2019, 5:09 PM

Last updated: Thu 23 May 2019, 1:51 PM

Two of the four on board the aircraft that crashed in Dubai last week have been identified, one of whom is a 26-year-old pilot from Isle of Man.
Both of those identified are British nationals. The identities of another Briton and a South African are yet unknown.
Also read: Dubai denies plane crash rumours
The BBC has reported that William Blackburn, 26, from Douglas, Isle of Man, was on a DA42 light aircraft that came down nearly five kilometers south of Dubai International Airport on Thursday (May 16).
David Phillips, also a Brit, has been identified as a former RAF wing commander. He served as an air traffic control examiner and had more than 3,000 hours of flying experience.
Quoting family sources, the BBC said Blackburn was "a beautiful soul who touched many hearts."
The family also said that flying was his passion and his death was "a tragedy we must learn to live with".
The UK-registered four-seat propeller-driven plane was owned by Flight Calibration Services, which flies staff around the world to inspect and calibrate navigation aids, which include radars and landing systems for airports.
Blackburn worked as a first officer for the firm, which is based at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex.
Tributes to Phillips - who was affectionately known as 'Spot' - have been paid online, including by the 83 St Georges Squadron Air Training Corps.
A spokesman for the corps wrote: 'It's with heavy heart that we have to inform you of the death of our Commanding Officer Flt Lt David Phillips. 'Our heartfelt condolences are with his family at this tragic time.'
US engineering and aerospace company Honeywell said it had hired the firm's plane for work in Dubai. The UAE General Civil Aviation Authority said an investigation was under way.
A spokesman for Flight Calibration Services also told BBC: "We are working closely with the accident investigation authorities and as yet there is no news as to how this tragic accident happened."
The two-year-old aircraft had been operating out of the Middle East since October, said reports.
asmaalizain@khaleejtimes.com



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