Batik 6321, clear for takeoff,” were the last words of Anthonius Gunawan Agung before his tragic death as a massive earthquake and tsunami struck Palu, Indonesia.
The 21-year-old air traffic controller had remained in the control tower at Palu Airport to ensure the safe departure of pilot Ricosetta Mafella and his 148 passengers and crew. His bravery came at a high cost; as the tower began to collapse from the 7.5 magnitude quake, Agung found his escape route blocked. His only escape route was to jump, which he did but broke his leg and suffered severe internal injuries.
Agung was rushed to a hospital where he received only basic treatment for his injuries. While waiting for a helicopter to transfer him to a better-equipped facility, he sadly succumbed to his wounds.
The earthquake and tsunami that hit Sulawesi on September 28, 2018, claimed the lives of 4,340 people.
Reflecting on the incident, pilot Mafella recalled, “I was rushing to leave. There was a voice in my head that told me to get out of here immediately.”
He instructed his crew and the ground staff to expedite their actions. At 6:02 PM, Mafella’s plane took off three minutes ahead of schedule, leaving behind the devastation. From the cockpit, he witnessed enormous waves approaching the shore.
Mafella described Agung as a “guardian angel” and a “national hero.” He later shared that he had tried to contact the air traffic controller multiple times to report the approaching waves but received no response. He later learned that Agung had been asked to leave the tower but had insisted on waiting until the Batik flight had departed. Upon hearing what had happened to Agung, Mafella was left speechless.
Source: unilad.com