The uniform that he wore while piloting the Saudi Arabian Airlines plane from Jeddah to Dammam had been stained with blood caused by an ear bleeding resulted from cardiac arrest while flying the plane under stress following a heated argument with a superior.

According to sources, Abdulrahman Al-Mahboub, assistant executive director general of Saudia for operations, had directed Mattar to take off the Dammam flight immediately after a “very stressful discussion” with him at the flight operations building at Jeddah airport.

Another shocking revelation regarding the premature death of the 35-year-old pilot was that the pending arrears of Saudia’s medical bills at a Dammam hospital had acted as a villain in delaying him intensive health care.

Speaking to Al-Madinah newspaper, Mattar's family members said they would not keep silent against those who are responsible for his death.

Abeer Suleiman, Mattar's older sister, testified that her brother was a decent gentleman and sincere in work in every sense of the word. “While he was assuring the passengers, as a pilot, that there is nothing to worry, one passenger had been experiencing chest pain. That was Khaled himself,” she said.

Suleiman said when her brother safely landed the plane at Dammam airport, he did not get proper medical attention. “The Saudia ambulance that took him to hospital lacked any oxygen cylinders or device for heart stimulation. The hospital authorities refused to admit him because of accumulated arrears owed by the national carrier. Who is responsible for the death of my brother? Who is responsible for the gross negligence, of which my brother was the victim?” Suleiman said, adding: “We should not keep mum about the rights of our brother and the letting of his blood in such an irresponsible way.”

A pilot and colleague of Mattar, who requested anonymity, told Al-Madinah that what happened to Mattar was the outcome of piling up of a number of grievances as well as acute mental pressures at the work place. “The director general of Saudia had issued orders that barred us several legitimate allowances, in addition to taking out some prerogatives that we had enjoyed earlier. Apart from incurring huge losses, there has been an increase in working hours and reduction in time off in a way making us impossible to perform duties comfortably. This happens at a time when more than 100 pilots are allowed to remain doing administrative work,” he said, adding that Mattar was a victim of bureaucracy.

According to the pilot, Mattar had been taking up these matters with his superiors. “I was one among his colleagues who had witnessed the heated argument between Mattar and Al-Mahboub on March 5. Mattar had been outraged and under acute stress when he was forced to pilot the plane bound for Dammam. Such situations could harm the safety of passengers and the crew,” he said.

According to the pilot, Mattar had complained of experiencing breathlessness and chest pain while the plane was flying above Riyadh. “His first officer asked him to land at Riyadh in order to receive emergency treatment. He refused the request fearing it would create an impression that he was acting in protest following the dispute with the senior official. When his condition worsened before reaching Dammam, he was forced to hand over control to his first officer,” he said.

Mattar is survived by his parents, pregnant second wife and four children. All members of his family as well as colleagues have to say nothing bad about him, says his sister Duaa. 

“He was virtually in the position of both father and mother for his son and three daughters after they lost their mother. His second wife Iman Mohsen is now in her seventh month of pregnancy. God willing, when she gives birth to her baby after a few weeks, the baby cannot have the chance to see its father. Who is to blame for this?”

Duaa recollects that Mattar was a very gentle and nice brother. Blessed with a handsome physique, he enjoyed good health and had not suffered any health problems, she said, while noting that he was supportive to both family members as well as to his colleagues and friends.

“Khaled’s colleagues had entrusted him to speak, on their behalf, with superiors about their grievances, such as cuts in salary and other allowances, especially of pilots on night duty. He became a victim of the stressful relations among the staffers in Saudia,” she noted.

Mattar’s mother told the newspaper that he was a very good gentleman.  “Everybody will speak about his good manners. You ask anybody on the street about him and they will testify this. He is a man who used to hide his personal woes from others with an earnest desire not to cause any disturbance to others,” she said, while emphasizing that she cannot keep mum about the way in which her son’s life came to an end.

On her part, Mohsen said her husband contacted her on returning to the hotel from hospital. He phoned me saying: “My children are a trust (amana) with you. I have settled all matters and made necessary arrangements for you.”