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Aerobatic Air Force pilot killed in airport crash
An Air Force pilot flying a Super Decathlon DL-30 was killed on Tuesday afternoon when he crashed into a parked aircraft at Tunggul Wulung Airport in Cilacap, Central Java.
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A damaged Super Decathlon DL-30 is seen at Tunggul Wulung Airport in Cilacap, Central Java, after a pilot attempting an aerobatic maneuver lost control and crashed into six parked airplanes. (Courtesy of Tunggung Wulung Airport /-)
A
n Air Force pilot flying a Super Decathlon DL-30 was killed on Tuesday afternoon when he crashed into six parked aircraft at Tunggul Wulung Airport in Cilacap, Central Java.
Col. Hanafie was reportedly practicing an aerobatic maneuver for the Wing Day ceremony of the Genesa Flying Academy slated for the end of March. The plane he was using belonged to the academy.
The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) is investigating the incident.
According to Tunggul Wulung Airport head Deni Ariyanto, Hanafie – call signed Jaguar – was a seasoned pilot who had experience flying a range of aircraft, including the MK-53 HS-Hawk, F-5E Tiger, F-16 Fighting Falcon and Sukhoi Su-27/30.
Hanafie was buried in Malang, East Java, in a military funeral.
Air Commodore Irbanto Avianto, general director of the Air Force’s Training Corps, said Hanafie’s achievements were indisputable and his juniors should look up to his achievements.
“The Air Force family is grieving the loss of one of our best pilots,” he said in Malang on Wednesday. (evi)
Editor's note: This article has been updated with information that Col. Hanafie was not practicing with a plane that belonged to Perkasa Flight School. The plane belonged to the Ganesha Flying Academy, the institution where he was working as an instructor.
