Malaysia

Han Solo was icon to Elmina crash plane pilot: brother

Heikal Aras Abdul Azim, 45, referred to himself as the Star War hero, would fight among siblings over character

Updated 2 years ago · Published on 20 Aug 2023 6:49PM

Han Solo was icon to Elmina crash plane pilot: brother
The remains of Heikal Aras Abdul Azim, 45, being brought to his parents’ house before his burial. – Bernama pic, August 20, 2023

PUTRAJAYA – The pilot of the plane that crashed near Bandar Elmina, Heikal Aras Abdul Azim, 45, achieved his dream profession after becoming an ardent fan of Han Solo, the pilot hero in the Star Wars film series.

“So much as he called himself Han Solo every time he watched a Star Wars movie and would even fight among us siblings over the character,” recalled his brother Husnein Aras about Heikal Aras, who died in the plane crash on the Guthrie Corridor Expressway near Bandar Elmina in Shah Alam, Selangor on Thursday.

“His interest also pushed him to become a pilot,” he said when met after the funeral of the late Heikal Aras, who was one of the pilots of the ill-fated plane, here today.

According to Husnein Aras, the deceased’s eldest son, Daniel Zulqarnain, 13, has also shown an interest in becoming a pilot like his father.

“We as a family can see when he often designs airplane replicas from cardboard,” said Husnein, who is a logistics officer at the army headquarters in Sg Besi.

In addition to Daniel Zulqarnain, the victim also has two other children, Suri Balqish, 10, and Rafael Dzulqairy, 9, from his marriage with his ex-wife, Christine Yong.

Husnein Aras said the deceased was always cheerful and kind. – Bernama, August 20, 2023

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