Propeller kills Navy member

SAMARINDA, East Kalimantan: A Navy member, Sgt. Syafrudin Jihat Surya Candra, died after being struck by a airplane propeller at Sepinggan Airport in Balikpapan on Wednesday.

Airport director Kuntadi Budianto told Antara on Thursday the 34-year-old Navy man was helping the crew of the Navy's PC-PKT Monex aircraft prepare for take off. The plane was heading for Surabaya.

It was the first accident of its kind to happen at the airport, according to Kuntadi.

The body of Syafruddin has been sent to his hometown of Sukoharjo in Central Java. He is survived by a wife and three children.