AIA board chair Azan resigns, alleging father’s removal from MTSB was politically motivated

Azan Zuhair, son of the former Director of the Maldives Transport Safety Board (MTSB), has resigned from the Board of Directors of Addu International Airport (AIA).

Zuhair told Sun on Monday evening that he was dismissed after appearing in a photograph with Abdulla Sodiq (Sobe), who contested the Hithadhoo North by‑election.

His son resigned shortly afterwards.

Azan, who served as Chairperson of the AIA Board, announced his resignation in a series of posts on X on Monday, saying he could not continue to represent a government that removed his father for political reasons.

Azan said his father had “always been a supporter of MDP” and was appointed as MTSB director only after a full vetting and interview process based on his aviation experience. He stressed that the position was not political and that “he would not have accepted the role otherwise” if any condition to support the PNC had been attached.

My father has always been a supporter of @MDPSecretariat. He was recently appointed as MTSB Director after an interview process, based on his aviation experience, with no condition to support PNC. He would not have accepted the role otherwise.

— Ajee (@AzanZuhair) June 8, 2026

He added that his father had refrained from participating in MDP campaign activities over the past year “out of respect” for the current administration, and only attended one of Sobe’s campaign events because Sobe is a family member. Azan said this information had been formally shared with the ministry 15 days in advance.

Despite this, Azan alleged that “some within government moved to have him removed.” Since his father was not a political appointee but a contracted employee, Azan said the position itself was dissolved to facilitate his removal.

I cannot continue to represent a government that acts this way. I have therefore submitted my resignation as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Addu International Airport.

My sincere thanks to the AIA team for their support during my tenure.

— Ajee (@AzanZuhair) June 8, 2026

“I cannot continue to represent a government that acts this way. I have therefore submitted my resignation as Chairperson of the Board of Directors of Addu International Airport,” Azan wrote.

He thanked the AIA team for their support during his tenure.

Zuhair is an experienced aviation professional and previously served as State Minister for Transport under the MDP government. He was appointed as MTSB director after an interview process that shortlisted multiple candidates.