An 'amateur-built' light aircraft crashed in the parking area of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Wednesday. Victor Besa / The National
An 'amateur-built' light aircraft crashed in the parking area of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Wednesday. Victor Besa / The National
An 'amateur-built' light aircraft crashed in the parking area of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Wednesday. Victor Besa / The National
An 'amateur-built' light aircraft crashed in the parking area of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque on Wednesday. Victor Besa / The National

Aircraft in Abu Dhabi Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque crash was 'amateur-built'


Rory Reynolds
  • English
  • Arabic

An aircraft that crashed outside Abu Dhabi's Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque was an "amateur-built" kit plane, investigators said.

The light single-engine aircraft plunged into the mosque's car park about 5pm on Wednesday, injuring the pilot.

A large number of emergency services were sent to the scene. Officials said no one else was hurt.

The General Civil Aviation Authority said "preliminary investigations showed the accident was caused by a technical malfunction while the amateur-built plane was en route to land at Al Bateen Executive Airport", state news agency Wam reported.

The aircraft "crashed in an unpopulated area".

Al Bateen airport is in the south of Abu Dhabi island, with the start of the runway less than half a kilometre from the mosque.

"The pilot was injured and rushed to hospital for treatment and monitoring."

The GCAA will continue investigating the accident. Abu Dhabi Police initially said the aircraft was a glider.

At the scene of the crash on Wednesday, the front of the plane appeared to be collapsed, with the surviving tail sticking up into the air.

The plane touched down some distance from the main entrance to the mosque.

Known as 'kit planes', such aircraft are popular among solo flyers and hobbyists. They are normally designed for short pleasure trips and can manage short take-off and landing due to their light weight.

Al Bateen airport was closed to planes between May and August while a major runway refurbishment was carried out. Helicopter services continued throughout.

It reopened last month, with its runway now able to cater for wide-body aircraft.

Al Bateen airport reopens for flights – in pictures

  • Work to upgrade facilities at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi is complete. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    Work to upgrade facilities at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi is complete. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • The airport is scheduled to reopen on Saturday. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    The airport is scheduled to reopen on Saturday. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • The airport in the 1970s. Photo: Ron McCulloch
    The airport in the 1970s. Photo: Ron McCulloch
  • Concorde at Al Bateen Airport in July 1974. Photo: Peter Alvis
    Concorde at Al Bateen Airport in July 1974. Photo: Peter Alvis
  • Al Bateen Executive Airport has ambitious plans for the future. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    Al Bateen Executive Airport has ambitious plans for the future. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • The runway during upgrade works. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    The runway during upgrade works. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • The refurbishments mean the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    The refurbishments mean the airport will be able to accommodate larger aircraft. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • Key upgrades were made while the airport was closed. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    Key upgrades were made while the airport was closed. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • Al Bateen Executive Airport. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    Al Bateen Executive Airport. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
  • The revamp included the building of a substantial new boundary wall, runway resurfacing, improved ground lighting and landscaping. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports
    The revamp included the building of a substantial new boundary wall, runway resurfacing, improved ground lighting and landscaping. Photo: Abu Dhabi Airports

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Soft power was first mentioned in 1990 by former US Defence Secretary Joseph Nye. 
He believed that there were alternative ways of cultivating support from other countries, instead of achieving goals using military strength. 
Soft power is, at its root, the ability to convince other states to do what you want without force. 
This is traditionally achieved by proving that you share morals and values.

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Esha Oza (captain), Al Maseera Jahangir, Emily Thomas, Heena Hotchandani, Indhuja Nandakumar, Katie Thompson, Lavanya Keny, Mehak Thakur, Michelle Botha, Rinitha Rajith, Samaira Dharnidharka, Siya Gokhale, Sashikala Silva, Suraksha Kotte, Theertha Satish (wicketkeeper) Udeni Kuruppuarachchige, Vaishnave Mahesh.

UAE tour of Zimbabwe

All matches in Bulawayo
Friday, Sept 26 – First ODI
Sunday, Sept 28 – Second ODI
Tuesday, Sept 30 – Third ODI
Thursday, Oct 2 – Fourth ODI
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Monday, Oct 6 – Second T20I

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2. Sebastian Vettel (GER/Ferrari) at 0.658sec
3. Daniel Ricciardo (AUS/Red Bull) 6.012 
4. Lewis Hamilton (GBR/Mercedes) 7.430
5. Kimi Räikkönen (FIN/Ferrari) 20.370
6. Romain Grosjean (FRA/Haas) 1:13.160
7. Sergio Pérez (MEX/Force India) 1 lap
8. Esteban Ocon (FRA/Force India) 1 lap
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13. Nico Hülkenberg (GER/Renault) 1 lap
14. Pascal Wehrlein (GER/Sauber) 1 lap
15. Marcus Ericsson (SWE/Sauber) 2 laps
16. Daniil Kvyat (RUS/Toro Rosso) 3 laps

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Tottenham 2 (Moura 8', Vertonghen 90 1')

Man of the Match: Adama Traore (Wolves)

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Although similar in its appearance, the concept of a fractional title deed is unlike that of a timeshare, which usually involves multiple investors buying “time” in a property whereby the owner has the right to occupation for a specified period of time in any year, as opposed to the actual real estate, said John Peacock, Head of Indirect Tax and Conveyancing, BSA Ahmad Bin Hezeem & Associates, a law firm.

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Transmission Seven-speed PDK

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More than 2.2 million Indian tourists arrived in UAE in 2023
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Indian tourists can make purchases in UAE using rupee accounts in India through QR-code-based UPI real-time payment systems
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Poacher
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  7. Highlands, Scotland 
  8. Argyll and Bute, Scotland 
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Updated: September 01, 2022, 7:58 AM