Wesam Sameer Al-Najjar
Wesam Sameer Al-Najjar is the first Saudi A380 pilot in the world and has spent nearly 4000 hours in the cockpit having flown to over 100 countries – all before his 29th birthday.
He joined Etihad Airways in 2013 and has flown the A318, A319, A320, and A330 Cargo aircraft – just to name a few. In 2016, the young Saudi pilot was selected to fly the A380, and is still the youngest Saudi national to have flown the world’s largest aircraft.
To mark KSA’s National Day this year, Al-Najjar was also chosen to co-pilot Etihad’s flagship Year of Zayed – branded A380 on a special flight to Jeddah. Speaking to local news he said, “It was such an honor to fly this flight. Taking it all the way to Jeddah, the first Etihad A380 to fly this route. It was great to be part of a movement that reflects a great relationship between the two countries. Flying an A380 is incredible; you fly a cruising speed of 575mph all the way into the sky. To fly such a big aircraft motivates me to learn more, to study more, to achieve more. To know more and more about the world of aviation.”
He was just 26 when he had received the email to inform him of his selection as an A380 pilot, “It was a huge honor and a dream come true and something that continues to motivate me,” said Al-Najjar. “I was very proud of myself. It was my dream. I remember receiving an email through flight operations. I just felt so happy. To fly the biggest aircraft in the world with destinations to London, Paris, New York and Sydney — it was a true honor and a dream — and I would say a large part was due to my family support and Etihad’s support, the UAE government’s support and the Saudi government’s support.”
Wesam Sameer Al-Najjar grew up in Madinah and had envisioned his future as an engineer but decided that being a pilot would be best for him in his late teens. Following a short stint in London to perfect his English skills, he moved to the UAE and enrolled in EDIC Horizon International Flight Academy, a flight school in Al Ain, when he was just 19. The A380 pilot trained alongside his brother at the academy, Wadi Al-Najjar, who now 33 co-pilots the A320 with Etihad.
Etihad Airways
Wesam also spoke about his time at the academy, “There was only myself and my brother and a girl who was from Saudi Arabia. I was one of the youngest guys in the group.” He spent 18 months at the academy and had secured his pilot credentials by the age of 21, joining Etihad shortly after.
The Saudi national finds that the lifestyle that comes with being a pilot is the most rewarding and explains, “You fly everywhere. You fly cold weather, warm weather. It is a wonderful job; it makes you learn more about different cultures by seeing many places in the world. Every flight is a new experience; new cultures, different flight crew, different personalities, different countries. And you really gain a family; sitting with a co-pilot for 16 hours and traveling with the flight crew; it really is a bonding experience.”
Having flown to over 100 countries, Al Najjar expressed his gratitude to Etihad Airways and the UAE, “I am so grateful to Etihad airlines; it is one of the biggest airlines in the world and the fastest growing. They have a great team, and I am happy to be in the UAE and feel like I am in my home country. There is a really deep relationship between my country and the UAE government. And I would like to thank the UAE government, together with Saudi’s government, for their joint support and helping me reach all my achievements. I would love one day to meet all them. It would be such an honor.”
