Hero of air traffic control tower
BLAME it on the Indonesian archipelago that sits on the Pacific “Ring of Fire,” where tectonic plates collide and many of the world’s volcanic eruptions and earthquakes occur when a 7.5 magnitude quake struck Sulawesi on Friday, 28 September. Oh My God!
Twenty-one-year-old Anthonius Gunawan Agung was on duty in the air traffic control tower at Palu’s Mutiara SIS AlJufrie airport when a series of earthquakes struck the city in Sulawesi Island on Friday.
Just in case you are not informed air traffic control is a service provided by groundbased air traffic controllers who direct aircraft on the ground and through controlled airspace, and can provide advisory services to aircraft in non-controlled airspace. The primary purpose of ATC worldwide is to prevent collisions, organize and expedite the flow of air traffic, and provide information and other support for pilots.
In some countries, ATC plays a security or defensive role, or is operated by the military.
As air traffic controller (ATC), he was in charge of air traffic not only in the airport vicinity but between destinations as well. He maintained the flow of aircraft in and out of airports and in flight, is key to aviation safety. This is well recognized as one of the most stressful jobs, requiring total concentration and he was required to abide by the strict aviation regulations as well as specific policies and procedures. He regulated and controlled commercial airline traffic in accordance with regulations posed by the government and airlines/airports.
As ATC, the conscientious logistician, Anthonius Gunawan Agung was fully committed to a wide array of duties ensuring that planes take off, travel and land safely. He knew that his presence was extremely important as air travel would not be possible without him.
Hence when the quake struck, instead of immediately leaving his post to save himself, he did not follow others leaving the crumbling four-storey control tower.
Instead he adamantly stationed at the tower giving clearance to Batik Air from Palu to Makassar to take off and waited for the airplane to become airborne. He parted with his calm but fated to be his last, final and eternal instruction: “Batik 6231, runway 33, clear for takeoff”.
Soon after his last words, the building began to shake violently.
Fearing he would be trapped beneath the debris if the tower collapsed around him, Agung jumped from a fourth floor window as the tower crumbled after the 7.5 magnitude quake that rocked the Indonesian archipelago.
With broken arms, legs, and ribs, he was taken to a hospital where he later succumbed to his injuries. Agung dedicated himself to his job until the end of his life. He sacrificed himself as a “guardian angel” to save hundreds of lives ensuring a passenger plane took off safely on that faithful Friday. He was among at least 1,230 people who died in the devastating earthquake and tsunami.
Accordingly Air Navigation Indonesia had issued a statement that it would posthumously raise Agung’s rank by two levels as a sign of appreciation. Indonesians praised Agung with many saying his story had brought them to tears. Several artists created tributes in his honour that were widely circulated on social media.
I am saddened by how an air traffic controller died while staying to guide a packed jet off cracking tarmac as quake demolished the airport terminal. Agung’s last act of bravery before he died was making sure the fated plane safely escaped the earthquake and tsunami which has devastated Palu in Indonesia.
He could have chosen to stay alive but he chose to let the 147 passengers and crew on the flight to live. Indonesians and the logistics comrades had truly lost a dedicatedlogistician that make this world a better place to stay.
We pray for Anthonius Gunawan Agung. May his soul rest in peace.