Abu Dhabi: Light aircraft crashes in parking lot of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque

A light aircraft has crashed in the extension of the external parking lot of the Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, authorities have announced.

#urgent | Abu Dhabi Police and Abu Dhabi Civil Defense teams are dealing with a glider crash that occurred this evening in the extension of the external parking lots of Sheikh Zayed Grand Mosque, which resulted in a minor injury to a person.@adcda997

— شرطة أبوظبي (@ADPoliceHQ) August 31, 2022

Abu Dhabi Police took to Twitter to inform that a Cessna caravan crashed due to a technical malfunction. The pilot suffered a minor injury and was taken to the hospital for necessary treatment.

Initial investigations from the incident scene have found the light aircraft, a Cessna Caravan, crashed due to a technical malfunction. The pilot was taken to hospital for medical treatment for a minor injury. No other injuries or casualties were reported.

— شرطة أبوظبي (@ADPoliceHQ) August 31, 2022

Taking to Twitter, the National Emergency Crisis and Disaster Management Authority (NCEMA) added that the UAE’s General Civil Aviation Authority had confirmed the crash took place while the plane was en route to landing at Al Bateen Private Airport.

GCAA confirmed that preliminary investigations showed that the crash was the result of a technical malfunction while the plane was en route to landing at Al Bateen Private Airport. The crash site was in an empty area.

— NCEMA UAE (@NCEMAUAE) August 31, 2022

Abu Dhabi Police urged the public not to spread rumours regarding the incident and to obtain information from official sources.