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Ethanol killed Russian technicians, say police
The recent death of three Russian jet technicians working in Makassar, South Sulawesi, was a result of ethanol poisoning, the National Police say
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T
he recent death of three Russian jet technicians working in Makassar, South Sulawesi, was a result
of ethanol poisoning, the National Police say.
“We have concluded that ethanol was to blame. The technicians displayed symptoms including nausea, vomiting and breathing difficulties,” National Police medical service chief Brig. Gen. Musaddeq Ishaq said Wednesday.
The police medical team had drawn their conclusion after conducting examinations of tissue samples taken from the bodies of the Russians.
The bodies were kept in Makassar for autopsies.
“We found signs of oxygen deficiency in the bodies of the three technicians,” he said.
The announcement raised concerns among authorities in Makassar, which had not received a written version of the examination report.
Among the unanswered questions were how had the ethanol entered the victims’ bodies and how had it reached lethal levels.
In some areas in Indonesia, the highly volatile substance is used as a component in home-made liquor.
According to experts, 1 milligram of ethanol in the body can be lethal.
The three technicians were part of a 37-member warranty team of technicians, mechanics, instructors and inspectors who arrived on Sept. 5 to work on the Russian-built Sukhoi jet fighters delivered to Makassar airbase on Sept. 10.
The bodies of the three dead technicians are scheduled to be flown back to Russia on Friday.
Local Air Force commander First Air Marshall Agus Supriatna said an Antonov plane would arrive at Makassar’s Sultan Hasanuddin Airbase on Thursday with more Sukhoi jets for Indonesia and carry the bodies back to Russia.
The Antonov will also bring with it three more technicians to replace the three that died, Agus said.
The technicians had been racing against time to reassemble planes scheduled to be officially transferred to the Indonesian government on Sept. 27, he said.
Authorities were still in the dark about how the Russians had obtained the ethanol. Many have speculated that the technicians had consumed ballo, a traditional liquor made locally.
Doctors and police refused to comment while waiting for the official autopsy results.
“The alcohol certainly did not come from [Indonesian Military] personnel,” Defense Ministry spokesman Brig. Gen. I Wayan Midhio said in Jakarta as quoted by detik.com.
Wayan added that the ministry was waiting for a report from South Sulawesi authorities who worked with the Russian diplomats from Jakarta who had authorized the autopsies.
The ministry hopes the planes’ assembly will be completed before Indonesia’s upcoming 65th National Military Day celebrations.
In Makassar, another two Russian technicians who were admitted to hospital with similar symptoms on Tuesday were recovering on Wednesday, according to doctors.
Correction:
The story titled “Ethanol killed Russian technicians, say police” that
appeared on this page on Thursday contained an error. All mentions of
ethanol should have read “methanol”. We apologize for the mistake.
— Editor
The Jakarta Post, September 17, 2010, page 1
