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ix-year-old Nopan Aditama Saputra died in his father'€™s arms after being hit by a bullet accidentally discharged by an Indonesian Military (TNI) soldier at Mopah Airport in Merauke, Papua, on Monday.

Nopan'€™s father Sugiono, 31, was also hit in the chest. The father is being treated at Merauke Regional Hospital.

Nopan and Sugiono were in the airport at around 8:30 am local time prior to boarding a flight to Yogyakarta where Sugiono was going to receive treatment for bone cancer, when they were hit by the round accidentally fired by a soldier from Battalion 755 Yalet.

The incident occurred after Mopah Airport protocol officer Chief Private Dedi Purwanto was emptying the FN-46 firearm owned by Let. Col. Joko Pitoko, chief of the Land Transportation Division at the Cenderawasih Military Command, who was about to board a Lion Air flight to Jayapura.

Sugiono and his son were in the office of Sriwijaya Air as Dedi unloaded the gun at the Lion Air office next door, the offices were separated by a plywood partition.

According to flight regulations, passengers are not permitted to carry firearms on board an aircraft and must place such items in the care of airport authorities for unloading before they are handed over to aircraft crew for safe keeping.

A firearm will only be returned to its owner upon arrival at the destination.

The weapon went off as Dedi was attempting to unload it and the round penetrated the partition, passing through Sugiono, who was leaning against it 1.5 meters from Dedi, before hitting Nopan.

Nopan'€™s body was taken to the morgue at Merauke Regional Hospital for an autopsy before burial in Salor village, Kurik district, Merauke, on Monday afternoon.

When contacted by The Jakarta Post, 174/AWT Military Command chief Brig. Gen. Supartodi said the TNI accepted responsibility for the incident.

'€œIt was negligence on the part of my man and he will face legal proceedings. We express our deepest apology to the family of the victims over the incident,'€ said Supartodi.

Sugiono'€™s medical expenses, added Supartodi, would be met by the TNI. '€œHe has undergone surgery. Whether or not he is referred to another hospital depends on the doctor treating him. But, wherever he is referred to, we will cover all his medical costs,'€ Supartodi insisted.

Separately, Cenderawasih Military Command chief spokesman Col. Rikas Hidayatullah confirmed the incident and said the negligent soldier had been detained.

'€œHe is being held by the Military Police and will be legally processed. It was an act of negligence. He should have emptied the gun pointing upward not horizontally. A loaded gun can go off during unloading and this is what happened. It'€™s negligence and every act of negligence has its sanctions,'€ Rikas said.