In mid-June 2015, Sandi Permana was adjudged the best student ..."
Tanjung Pinang (ANTARA News) - Captain Sandi Permana, who piloted the Hercules aircraft that crashed in North Sumatras capital, Medan, on Tuesday, was named Air Force Command Schools "best student" for the admission year 1997, stated an air force officer.

"In mid-June 2015, Sandi Permana was adjudged the best student of the school for the admission year 1997," Commander of the Tanjung Pinang Air Base I Ketut Wahyu Permana noted here on Wednesday.

Sandis demise had immensely saddened me, as I was close to him when he was studying at the school and had outstanding achievements to his name, Ketut noted.

Sandi was killed in the crash of the transport aircraft carrying 113 people on board. Among them were 12 Indonesian Air Force personnel.

According to Indonesian military (TNI) spokesman Major General Fuad Basya, the ill-fated transport aircraft, which crashed into a residential area on Jamin Ginting Road shortly after taking off from Polonia Air Force base, was deemed "fit for flying."

The transport aircraft, bearing the registration number A-1310, crashed shortly after taking off from Polonia airbase on its flight from Medan to Tanjung Pinang and Natuna Island in Riau Islands Province, the TV station reported.

The C-130 aircraft was carrying supplies from Halim Perdanakusuma Air Force base in Jakarta to several air bases such as Pekanbaru, Medan, Tanjung Pinang, Ranai (Natuna Island), and Pontianak.

The crash site is widely known as one of the busiest roads connecting Medan and Brastagi tourist resort.

(Reported by Nikolas Panama/Uu.R013/INE/KR-BSR/A014)

Editor: Priyambodo RH
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