PUTRAJAYA, Aug 20 — Elmina plane crash pilot Heikal Aras Abdul Azim, 45, achieved his dream profession after becoming an ardent fan of Han Solo, the hero pilot 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 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 Sungai Besi.

In addition to Daniel Zulqarnien, 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