Emirati Pilot Brothers Lovingly Thank Dad For Inspiring Them: "He Was Also A Pilot"

• The Alhashmi brothers, Luay, Lutfi, and Mansoor, are celebrating their shared passion for aviation as pilots for Etihad Airways
• The trio, collectively contributing over 40 years to the airline, expressed their gratitude to their father for sparking their love of flying
• Luay, a seasoned captain with 17 years at Etihad, reminisced about his initial inspiration, saying he followed in his father’s footsteps

In a touching tribute to their father's aviation legacy, the Alhashmi brothers—Luay, Lutfi, and Mansoor—are not just pilots; they are a testament to the power of family inspiration.

Why did the brothers become pilots?

Captain Luay Alhashmi, with 17 years of service at Etihad, fondly recalled the pivotal moment that set his course in the aviation industry.

"I followed in my father’s footsteps in becoming a pilot. It was my dream ever since he took me flying when I was still in high school," he told The National.

Lutfi, now a captain himself, shares the sentiment, attributing their father's influence during his tenure with the presidential flight.

"My dad used to fly a lot of places and he used to bring us toys. Most of our toys were aircrafts and aeroplanes."

The brothers engage in friendly rivalry, reminiscing about a memorable challenge in Chicago where Luay claims his landing was superior, leading to a day of teasing.

United by love for spontaneity

Lutfi, however, dismissed the competitive banter with a laugh.

Mansoor, the youngest sibling and a senior first officer, took a different route before joining the aviation industry. He said;

"I graduated with a bachelor’s degree in finance management, but I didn’t like it. My brother said I should join them. I thought about it. Then I had my interview and now I’m here.”

United by their love for spontaneity and a distaste for routine, the brothers appreciate the familial atmosphere at Etihad Airways.

Luay emphasises the joy of exploring diverse cultures and meeting people, while Mansoor values the supportive community within different departments.

They hope to captain a flight together

The journey to captaincy was no easy feat for Luay and Lutfi, who recount the challenges.

Luay, now a captain of the Boeing fleet, vividly recalls the excitement and stress of his first flight after the promotion.

Lutfi, who achieved captaincy a year ago, aspires to contribute to Etihad’s training department in the future.

Their shared dream is to captain a flight together. While Luay has flown with both brothers separately, the trio hopes to unite in the cockpit for a memorable journey.

As Etihad Airways commemorates its 20th anniversary this month, the Alhashmi brothers stand tall as a symbol of familial dedication.

Identical triplet sisters become doctors

In a similar story, identical triplets Joanna, Vicky and Sarah Bedell saw their mom, Dr Janet Gersten, deliver a baby for the first time at only eight years old.

Fast-forward decades later, Vicky remembers how the patient kept apologising for cursing as she stood against the wall.

“I remember my mum being very collected and having confident control of the situation, which was very cool to watch,” said her twin Sarah.

5 Chicago reported, on her part, Joanna was horrified, and she said:

“Three things definitely stick out in my mind. One, I did not expect the baby’s head to be so big. Two, it was the first time I ever felt like I was going to faint. And three, I definitely don’t want to be an OB-GYN (obstetrics and gynecologist)," she disclosed.