Endangering Lives, Farming Boss Who Flew Workers on Drone Apologises

The director of PT Bina Tani Makmur Jombang, Budianto (47), who also owns the TikTok account @mbahkaruhon.tiktok.com1, has issued an apology after uploading a video of a farmer being transported by a drone or unmanned aircraft. He apologised because the video he uploaded caused public uproar. He also promised not to repeat the act, acknowledging it could be dangerous. ‘For the uproar caused by the video, I apologise to all members of the public wherever they are, and I will convey to my partners that this is very dangerous, and I will not repeat it,’ Budianto said in an apology video. Budianto clarified that the video of the farmer being lifted using the large-capacity drone was not recorded in Kabuh, Jombang, East Java. ‘Allow me to introduce myself, I am Budianto, commonly known on the TikTok account @mbahkaruhon. I am clarifying that the video I uploaded of a farmer riding a drone was not made in the Kabuh area, Jombang,’ he stated. The video showing a farmer being transported by a drone to and from plantation land went viral on social media. Budianto initially revealed that the upload was actually just for fun. He, who is also the Director of PT Bina Tani Makmur Jombang, said the main function of the large-capacity agricultural drone is to transport fertiliser, seeds, and harvests. ‘It was actually just for content. It was really just for fun,’ said Budianto, a resident of Jombang, East Java, when confirmed by CNNIndonesia.com on Tuesday (7/7). He said the drone is usually used to spray liquid pesticides and liquid fertiliser onto plants on his land from a height. Budianto said this method is considered effective and efficient in assisting farmers’ work, especially in plantation terrain that is difficult to reach. Occasionally, Budianto said, because the drone’s strength allows it to lift loads of up to 150 kilograms, the unmanned aircraft is also used to transport fertiliser and seeds. Regarding the drone lifting a farmer, Budianto admitted it stemmed from his curiosity to test the tool’s lifting power, rather than being planned as part of routine operations. He also confirmed that only a small number of workers were lifted by the drone and that it was purely for entertainment, not a work transportation method implemented by his company. ‘It was actually just for fun. Let’s try this, can it lift me or not? Your weight is probably only 60 to 70 kilos, if it’s lifted, can it get there?,’ he said.