Historical Milestone: Maldivian Pilots Operate International Airline Flight to Maldives

In a landmark moment for Maldivian aviation, two Maldivian pilots successfully operated a scheduled flight of an international airline to the Maldives on Thursday. Captain Jinaan Shareef and First Officer Mohammed Shinaz piloted the FlyDubai flight FZ1569 from Dubai, United Arab Emirates, which touched down at Velana International Airport (VIA). This flight marks the first time a regular commercial flight operated entirely by Maldivian pilots has landed in the Maldives. The pilots were warmly welcomed upon arrival. Stakeholders in the aviation industry have hailed this achievement as a significant milestone. Mohamed Firaq, owner of Inner Maldives, expressed pride in the accomplishments of Maldivian pilots on the global stage, emphasizing the positive impact on the Maldivian aviation industry. This success follows previous milestones, including the landing of the Airbus A380 at VIA in 2018, piloted by Maldivian First Officer Ali Ahusan.