HERO CONTROLLER DIED SAVING PLANE
AN air traffic controller sacrificed his life to ensure a packed aircraft escaped the earthquake and tsunami in Indonesia that left over 400 dead, with the toll expected to rise to thousands.
Anthonius Agung, 21, stayed in his collapsing control tower on the island of Sulawesi until the Batik Air flight was safely in the sky.
His colleagues fled when the tower’s walls began to crack, but he refused to abandon his post.
An Air Navigation Indonesia spokesman said the decision cost him his life, but potentially saved hundreds of others.
‘He gave clearance for this flight, and if he left his post before the plane was airborne, hundreds inside the plane might be in danger,’ he said.
After the plane left safely, Mr Agung jumped from a fourth floor window but died later from his injuries.
A 10ft wall of water smashed into Sulawesi in the wake of the quake on Friday evening. Preparations were underway for a festival and there were many dancers on the beach.
As rescuers went to work, flattened towns and villages were dotted with bright blue body bags.
The quake hit central Sulawesi at a depth of 6.2 miles just before 6pm on Friday local time. A tsunami warning was issued but lifted within the hour.
Indonesia’s meteorological agency has been criticised for its response, but officials said the waves struck while the warning was in place.