Assad Kotaite, president emeritus of the International Civil Aviation Organization, has died at the age of 89.
The organization called Kotaite, who died Thursday, one of the most prominent and respected figures in civil aviation, and a respected leader and visionary.
He began his career with ICAO in 1953 as part of the organization’s legal committee. From 1956 to 1970, he represented Lebanon on the council of ICAO. In 1970, he was named secretary general of ICAO and then elected president of the council for 11 terms — from 1976 until 2006, when he retired.
In 2013, Kotaite received the Edward Warner Award, which ICAO said is the highest honor in civil aviation.
After retiring, Kotaite established the Assad Kotaite Graduate and Postdoctoral Fellowship Fund in order to advance development of civil aviation, ICAO said.
Former ICAO council president dead at 89
