Seven years, one dream: Mariyam Malaak becomes Maldives’ first female pilot cadet from cabin crew

When Mariyam Malaak steps into the cockpit of a Manta Air seaplane on 1 December 2025, she will be doing far more than beginning her first day as a First Officer. She will be closing a seven-year chapter of perseverance—one marked by setbacks, sacrifices, shifting continents, motherhood, and an unwavering belief in the dream she had held since childhood: to fly.

At 30, Malaak has become Maldives’ first female pilot cadet to transition from cabin crew to the flight deck. Her story is not one of a seamless rise, but of grit forged through adversity.

“It has been a very long, very obstacle-filled journey,” she said. “After studying piloting, I joined Manta as a cabin crew member. After working as crew for a year, I upgraded to pilot. On 1 December, I will start as a First Officer.”

Malaak’s fascination with flying began early in life, long before aviation felt accessible or imaginable. At 18, she joined Mega Maldives as a cabin crew member—a step into the airline world that made her dream feel closer.

After two years, she took the leap many only talk about: she enrolled in a flight school in Addu to pursue her pilot training. But just one year later, the first of several major obstacles emerged. Due to limited aircraft availability at the school, Malaak completed only 16 hours of flying—far below what was required.

It was a demoralising start, yet it did not deter her.

Along the way, life unfolded in unexpected ways. Malaak met a fellow student at the flying school—someone who shared her dreams, ambitions, and determination. Within three months, they were married.

Before they became pilots, they became parents.

Pregnancy meant a pause in formal flying. Malaak continued studying theory from home, taking exams while raising her first child. When her son grew older, she and her husband resumed training. They flew on alternate days so that one parent always remained with the baby.

“It wasn’t easy to study while taking care of a child in a foreign country, but we shared the responsibility completely. When I went flying, my husband did everything for our son. And when it was my husband’s turn to fly, I managed it all.”

Parenthood, she said, strengthened their bond rather than straining it.

“My relationship with my husband has become stronger. This journey was successful because I didn’t lose heart.”

Sri Lanka became their second attempt at completing flying school—but again, challenges rose quickly.

First came delays at their initial school. Then an unexpected pregnancy pause. Then the 2019 Easter bombings, which forced the Sri Lankan government to ban flying by foreign students. As soon as the ban lifted, COVID-19 hit.

“When we got through the situation after the bombing, the virus came. I couldn’t fly for two years.”

Once restrictions eased, they resumed once more. Only for the Sri Lankan economic crisis—fuel shortages, currency restrictions, and extended power cuts—to halt flying operations yet again.

At times, the dream felt impossibly far away. Malaak remembers the questions people asked when she returned home during breaks.

“People would ask why I still hadn’t completed my studies. They didn’t understand what we were going through.”

But she kept going. Seven long years after she first began flight school, Malaak finally completed her qualifications.

Returning to Maldives in February 2024, she began searching for opportunities. Six months later, Manta Air offered her a cabin crew position with the promise of transitioning into the pilot cadet programme within a year.

It was the break she had waited for.

Her time as crew not only strengthened her operational understanding but also connected her more deeply with the company. “I liked the chance to understand the operational and other aspects of the aircraft.”

On 1 December 2025, she will officially wear the pilot’s uniform.

She is now Manta’s first female employee to make the transition from cabin crew to pilot, marking a milestone for the airline and the Maldives’ aviation sector.

Today, Malaak and her husband—now a pilot at Trans Maldivian Airways (TMA)—balance demanding schedules with raising their eight-year-old son. When she is rostered on duty, her husband takes over childcare. When both parents are working at the same time, their extended families step in.

“My husband and my family are very supportive. We’ve managed because we stand by each other.”

Her story, she believes, is not only her own but a reflection of collective resilience.

Malaak says every obstacle, setback, delay, and moment of uncertainty carried a lesson.

“There will always be challenges when you are trying to make a dream come true. But if you’re brave enough to face them, the results will be sweet.”

Her advice to aspiring pilots—especially young women—is clear: “Don’t stop dreaming, no matter what responsibilities you have.”

As she prepares for her first flight as First Officer, Malaak carries the weight of her past struggles lightly. Her story now stands as a beacon for other Maldivians—especially girls—who look to the sky and wonder whether their dreams can take flight.

Thanks to her persistence, they now have a clearer path to follow.