A

n alleged tresspasser at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport died instantly when he was hit by the propeller of a Cessna aircraft that was about to take off during a flight training exercise in Makassar on Saturday.

The victim was identified as Sainuddin, 28, of Sinjai regency. It was reported that he was struck by the propeller at 7:15 a.m. Jakarta time on runway 13. The PK ZAQ Cessna 212, with pilot Wahyudi and co-pilot Syamsul Rizal in the cockpit, was about to take off when the incident took place.

“The aircraft was preparing to take off and was waiting for clearance from air traffic control when the pilot heard a crash. He took off and found the victim collapsing,” Angkasapura I General Manager Rachman Syafrie said.

He said the victim was killed instantly, with his face hardly recognizable. The body was rushed to nearby Bhayangkara Hospital for an autopsy.

Syafrie said he had no idea how Sainuddin had found his way into the airport and onto the forbidden runway area. “We are still investigating how the victim infiltrated the airport as security is normally tight and the airport is surrounded by a fence. This is an anomaly,” he said.

He said the investigation team comprised representatives of airport authority PT Angkasa Pura I, the police and Makassar Air Traffic Control.

“The team has already been working, but we are waiting for the results of how the victim managed to break in,” he said.

South Sulawesi police chief Sn. Comr. Chevy Ahmad Sopari said that they had questioned several witnesses.

At the hospital, Abdul Gani, 39, confirmed that the victim was a relative of his. “I’m sure the victim is Cuding; Sainuddin’s nickname. I recognize the torso as well as the thin chin beard,” he said.

According to Gani, Sainudding lived in Alehanue subdistrict, North Sinjai district, Sinjai regency. He was a farmer and a frequent traveler to Kolaka, Southeast Sulawesi, where apparently he enjoyed visiting relatives.

— JP/Andi Hajramurni