President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has extended his condolences following the passing of Maldives’ first air traffic controller, Mohamed Naeem Hussain.

In a post shared on his official X account, President Dr Muizzu said Naeem’s valuable service would always be remembered in the history of air transport in the Maldives. He stated that Naeem’s contributions date back more than half a century, to the period when the Maldives opened to tourism and the national airport began providing air traffic control services to accommodate the growth in international flights.

The President extended his condolences to Naeem’s family, as well as to the management and staff of Maldives Airports Company Limited (MACL), on the passing of the country’s first air traffic controller. He also prayed for eternal peace for late Naeem.

Naeem passed away at the age of 74. He was among the first aviation professionals to begin service when Velana International Airport commenced operations. His role as the Maldives’ first air traffic controller marked a historic milestone in the country’s civil aviation sector.