A Douglas man has been named as one of four people who died in a plane crash near Dubai International Airport.

William Blackburn was the co-pilot of the aircraft when the fatal crash happened at about 7.30pm Dubai time on Thursday (May 16).

His family have paid tribute to the 26-year-old, who previously worked with the island’s air ambulance service, as a selfless and loving man who had always dreamed of flying.

An investigation is continuing into the cause of the crash, which also claimed the lives of two other Britons and a South African who were aboard the four-seater UK-registered Diamond DA42 light aircraft.

It is believed the cause of the incident was a technical malfunction. The propeller aircraft came down about three miles south of the airport.

Mr Blackburn, a former St Ninian’s High School pupil, was working for Flight Calibration Services, based at Shoreham Airport in West Sussex, which also owned the aircraft.

The crew were flying to calibrate terrestrial navigation systems at the airport, which is being refurbished.

His father, Gary Blackburn, managing director of Absolute Scaffolding, said: ’We got the call on Thursday at 6.30pm. It was heartbreaking and devastating. I was in Belfast at the time.

’He had one month of his contract left before coming home to start his new job on a private jet. Flying was his dream and his life. Whatever else he tried he just wanted to be a pilot.’

Will’s mother, Joanna, said: ’After a lot of hard work he got there in the end. He had nearly 800 hours in his log book and was gaining flying miles for experience before coming back to the Isle of Man to work as a first officer on a private jet.

’He was going to Florida for type-rating training for the new jet he’d been employed to be first officer on.

’He was living the dream. As devastated as we are, I look back at his photos and not one is without a plane. When he had a day off he would go out plane spotting. That’s all he wanted to do.’

The young pilot trained in New Zealand in 2015 before qualifying as a commercial pilot in 2017. Following that he worked for the island’s Air Ambulance for about a year where he would carry out rescues and escort babies in need of medical attention to the Intensive Care Unit.

Previous to that, he was a trainee accountant at Harding and Lewis. ’I was there this morning (Monday) and they’re absolutely devastated,’ said Gary. ’He left a massive impression wherever he went and on anybody who had the pleasure of meeting him.’

The last memory they have of their son was the weekend before last, as he came home to celebrate his 26th birthday on May 11 with his loved ones.

’He saw everybody that meant the most to him that weekend,’ Joanna said. ’He was a family-orientated person and was so excited to see us. He was very selfless and would do anything for anybody.

’He had a very good heart for a 26-year-old and even as a teenager it was very rare in the fact that he had so much time for his grandparents and others.’

Gary added: ’He loved his family to bits. He and his siblings were so close, the three of them. We’re proud to have had the pleasure of him being with us for 26 years.’

Will’s sister Emma, aged 22, said: ’I’ve just lost my best friend. He was always the first one to help.’

And his brother, Chris, 24, added: ’There was not a bad bone in his body. He was the nicest guy you’d ever meet. Getting the call was horrible. I’m still a bit in shock to be honest.

’Flying was his life. Family and flying. He was doing what he loved in those last hours.’

The young pilot’s funeral is expected to take place following TT while inquests take place in Dubai and in the UK. His company will be making arrangements to bring him back home.

The Home Office in the UK has been in constant contact with his family, who are still unsure of many details surrounding Will’s death.

Gary added that their family is ’very lucky’ to have so many friends and family around them who have been ’unbelievably kind’ during this time.