Saudi Gazette report

RIYADH — The pilot of a light sport aircraft died in an accident after taking off from Al-Thumama Airport, near Riyadh on Tuesday morning.

The Saudi Aviation Investigation Bureau (AIB) said in a statement that it had received information that a Tecnam light sport plane had an accident after taking off from Thumama Airport.

“The preliminary information indicates that the plane took off from Thumama airport at around 6:30 am, with its Saudi trainee pilot was on a training flight. Five minutes after take-off, a distress call was sent by the pilot and then the connection was lost.”

The AIB statement said that a search plane was sent by the Aviation Academy, and it located the wreckage five kilometers north of Thumama Airport.

The bureau stated that the concerned security agencies, who reached the accident spot, found that the pilot was dead. AIB has formed a task team to probe into the circumstances and causes of the accident, the statement added.

Thumama Airport, located 29 km north of King Khalid International Airport of Riyadh, has one of the longest runways in the Kingdom. The airport is a full of activity area for the members of the Saudi Aviation Club. They practice there all the activities ranging from horse riding, four-wheelers drifting, as well as general aviation, sports and spa activities. Theme parks, desert picnics, and fast food outlets are among the facilities at the airport.