REPUBLIKA.CO.ID, JAKARTA – Incident happened during the rehearsal of Indonesian Air Forces (TNI AU)'s 71st anniversary celebration. Six parachutists fell and injured on Thursday (April 6). “I was talking with a friend in my car and then suddenly there were some parachutes float very low in the air. Very low,” Dwi Warna said to Republika.co.id on the same day.
Dwi said parachutists of TNI AU member fell imperfectly. The crowd gathered to the scene in no time. Emi Rochani, a resident of Kodam complex, Jatiwaringin, East Jakarta, left her kitchen immediately when she heard people screaming. "I saw two parachute jumpers hung on a mango tree outside Kartika X-7 Elementary School near my house," she said.
Emi said people then tried to help the parachutists. Meanwhile, another resident named Mari saw both of the parachutist faced difficulties to control their parachutes. "The wind was blowing and troubling them," she said.
A parachutist got his parachute twisted at the power pool, Kodam Jatiwaringin complex, East Jakarta, on Thursday (April 6). Special
According to Mari, there was another parachute jumper who was troubled by the wind. He was stuck at the power pole before rescuers help him out. "Meanwhile, another troop fell to the ground. I saw him lying on his chest and he was screaming in pain," Mari remarked.
Students of Kartika X-7 Elementary School cheered the troops. Some people helped TNI AU members by giving drinks, helping them to take off the parachutes from the tree and power pole, and taking care the injured.
In nearby complex, Elang Malindo V Street, Curug Indah, Rayi Panji witnessed one parachutist fell to the roof and another one hit the tree. He managed to videotaped the incident and it was widely spread in Whatsapp group.
A parachuthist tried to managed his parachute after falling and hit a tree at Curug Indah complex, East Jakarta, Thursday (April 6). Rayi Panji
Two other parachutists fell in separated location. They landed in Jaticempaka, Bekasi, West Java, not far from the two other scenes. "I saw one troop hit banana tree and the other parachutist landed on a pond," Muristi, a citizen of Kampung Curug, Jaticempaka said.
Dwi said there were three ambulances at the scene. But, it was not enough. She then offered the troops a ride to the Dr. Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital. "I heard there were four parachutists injured, mostly in their legs," she said.
Dwi Warna (left) accompanied by a TNI AU personnel drove injured troop to Dr. Esnawan Antariksa Air Force Hospital, East Jakarta, on Thursday (April 6). Wita Novita
Spokesperson of TNI AU Air Commodore Jemi Trisonjaya explained not long after the parachutists jump, air speed was changing up to the upper limit parachuting which is more than 20 knots. "The personnel had difficulties in steering their parachutes to the predetermined location," he said in a written statement to Republika.co.id on the same day.
The past two days, the troops had been preparing several attraction, including parachute jumper. Jemi explained there were two aircrafts type Hercules C-130 used in the demonstration. The demonstration represented an operation of airbase followed by 108 members of Typical Corps Troops (Paskhas AU). They jumped at about 10.40 a.m.
There were six members of TNI AU injured during the incident; they are Sergeant Sugianto, Sergeant Fajar, Capt Pas Andrew, First Sergeant April Siregar, Sergeant Erik, and Soldier's head Muslimin. All of them were taken to Air Forces Hospital Dr. Esnawan Antariksa in Halim Perdanakusuma, East Jakarta.
Jemi said another rehearsal would be conducted on Friday (April 7).
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