Watch: 15-year-old pilot lands his own plane in UAE in historic flight attempt

Abu Dhabi: A 15-year-old pilot touched down in the UAE in his own plane on Friday, completing a leg of his world-record-attempting circumnavigation of the globe.

Sharing exclusive video footage of the landing at Al Bateen Executive Airport in Abu Dhabi, Australian pilot Byron Waller, known as Teen Pilot Down Under, told Gulf News that the UAE marks a major milestone before he continues through Egypt, Europe, Iceland, Canada, the United States, and finally back home.

Byron began his world tour from Brisbane in Australia and flew to Singapore, Sri Lanka, and India before landing in Abu Dhabi from Ahmedabad in India.

Byron said he had spent much of his young life in and out of hospitals starting from infancy. Diagnosed with Crohn’s disease, a chronic digestive condition that causes inflammation, abdominal pain, severe diarrhoea, and fatigue, he was attending school in a wheelchair. Rather than letting illness define him, he turned to aviation as both passion and purpose.

“Flying around the world is about showing other young people that no matter the challenges you face, you can rise above them. Aviation has given me hope, purpose, and a future,” he said.

Byron’s passion for aviation began at six, during a Scouts air activities day.

“Seeing the world from another perspective was amazing,” he recalled. School flights in a C17 Globemaster further inspired him, and he took his first flying lesson at 13, sparking a dream that has now grown into a global mission.

“When I turned 14 and finally went into remission, I wanted to celebrate in a way that also gave back to those who had supported me. That’s when I decided to fly around Australia to raise awareness for the Queensland Children’s Hospital, which eventually led to the opening of a new ward for Crohn’s patients,” he proudly said.

He went on to complete a 19-day flight across Australia, inspiring young people nationwide. In June 2025, he stood alongside the Health Minister to open the new gastrointestinal ward at Queensland Children’s Hospital, where he had spent much of his early life as a patient.

After that, he decided to fly around the world “to show people that nothing is too big to achieve if you have the right mindset.”

“I wanted to tell people your illness does not define who you are. When you want to do something, you can and you will do it if you put your mind to that goal,” he said, exemplifying it through his own experience.

“I’ve completed all the exams up to the Private Pilot Licence (PPL). I’ve already passed my Recreational Pilot Licence and some of the PPL requirements.”

However, he is accompanied on this journey by an instructor, to meet legal requirements.

Byron acknowledged the challenges of long flights, even with a co-pilot. “The journey is not solo, but some challenges include a lack of motivation. Reflecting helps me get motivated the most. There have been tough situations, but thanks to the team around me, I’ve overcome them. I have had my instructor monitoring me, but he hasn’t needed to do anything dramatic except for being just there for legal requirements.”

His parents play key roles in the mission. His mother, a psychologist, manages media, while his father, an estimator, handles logistics. They bought him the four-seat, high-performance light aircraft — a Sling TSi with registration code VH-ZMD with a Rotax 915 engine, which features extended-range fuel tanks and a tracking system — for the globetrotting flight.

“My parents have crucially shaped my journey through planning or just being someone to talk to during the long flights,” he said.

Byron is scheduled to visit 17 countries with 38 landings in total.

So far, he has enjoyed memorable cultural experiences. “My most memorable moments have been experiencing all the cultures we have visited. Landing in Sri Lanka with a huge cultural gathering was amazing, and flying over the UAE for landing in Abu Dhabi, feeling the heat, looking down at the beautiful sand dunes and small towns popping up — it was unreal!”

When asked about the biggest lessons, he said: “I’ve learned so many things, but the biggest is to trust yourself if something doesn’t feel right, and to keep your mind on the big picture when you’re struggling.”

Byron described the careful planning behind his Abu Dhabi landing.

“We coordinated everything through airport operations and a local handling agent. They managed my flight plan, PPR, and slot, and we aligned on customs, immigration, fuelling, parking, and media requirements. On arrival, I followed the marshalling signals, went through the safety brief, and then completed my post-flight checks,” he explained.

Though he had initially planned to stay in the UAE for two nights, Byron has extended his visit. “I love it so much, and there are a few logistics for the aircraft that need sorting, so we’ll be here until about Thursday or Friday,” said Byron who visited Emirates Falcons Aviation as his first stop in the UAE.

He also expressed excitement about exploring the country further. “It’s surreal that one of the most futuristic places is literally in the desert,” he said.

Byron, who is in Year 10, also keeps up with his studies while travelling. His school has provided an online learning portal so he can complete assignments remotely. He explained that during the term he usually flies only on weekends, but during this global trip, he works on schoolwork whenever he can.

He expects to return to Australia on his birthday, October 13. “Once I’m back, I have a few great plans, but first I’ll probably learn how to drive, as I’m still too young to do so even with a driving instructor or parent… I definitely plan to take on new missions and continue flying, but I’ll keep my ideas a surprise for now,” he added.