Bittersweet ending to Bali world parachuting attempt
Bittersweet ending to Bali world parachuting attempt
Text by Wahyoe Boediwardhana, The Jakarta Post, Bali
Indonesia lost one of its top-notch sky divers when 55-year-old veteran Theodorus Petrus Mandagi's parachute failed to open during an attempt by 103 international parachutists to set a new world record of mass free-fall formation creating an impressive six-bladed red-and-white propeller formation on Aug. 11 from the height of 18,000 feet over the Ngurah Rai International Airport in Tuban.
The momentous event has had a significant impact on Indonesia's skydiving and aero sports as well as on Bali as one of the world's top tourist destinations.
For the first time, the 103 athletes from 16 different countries collaborated in this breathtaking event to set a world record for creating an aerial formation for seven seconds at 6:07 p.m. (local time).
The jumpers came from Indonesia, Singapore, Malaysia, Germany, Thailand, Australia, New Zealand, the United Kingdom, Belgium, Norway, the Netherlands, Russia, Ukraine, El Salvador and the United States.
Led by the world's top skydiving instructor B.J. Worth from the United States, the 103 athletes boarded the C-130 Hercules belonging to the Indonesian Air Force and managed to break the record after three days of tireless efforts.
Overshadowed by the death of Theo P. Mandagi, the event has, however, encouraged younger generations of aviation athletes in Indonesia to achieve their dreams and to make their mark in various international events.
Theo was the fourth son in the Mandagi family to died in connection with skydiving. His three brothers, Roby, Alfred and Chris Mandagi died in an airplane crash along with other sky divers.
According to H. Nifsu Chasbullah, chairman of the Indonesian Skydiving and Aero sports association, the event was aimed at regaining the confidence of the international community in Bali and Indonesian in general and to revitalize the tarnished image of Bali as an international tourist destination in the wake of the October 2002 Bali bombing.
"The world record is our gift to Indonesia as it celebrates its 59th anniversary," Nifsu said.
The record was also documented by MURI, the Indonesian Record Museum.
According to, Lt. Col. Yoyok Y. Setyono, Ngurah Rai Airport commander, the event was fully sponsored by the Air Force.
"Our main intention was to invite international sky divers to visit Bali and to see for themselves that Bali is already safe," said Setyono.
The Air Force flew two aircraft, the Hercules-130H and CN-235 for the 103 jumpers.
After breaking the world record, the sky divers continued their efforts at the Selaparang airport in Lombok, West Nusa Tenggara on Aug. 14.
"In addition to Bali, Lombok also experienced a difficult period after the Bali bombing. The international skydiving event is expected to bring international attention to this small island," Nifsu said.