Sani Aliyu: Georgia student, 21, dies after being hit twice by propeller of plane rented for dinner date
STATESBORO, GEORGIA: In a freak accident, Sani Aliyu, 21, died after being struck twice by an airplane propeller on Sunday, October 16 in Georgia. He was returning from a dinner date, for which he had rented the plane. The Georgia Southern University student had chauffeured his date on a 58-mile journey on the plane for dinner but died after landing back home in front of his female friend.
It is reported that Aliyu, had flown to Savannah, Georgia, from Statesboro, where Georgia Southern University is situated, including his date and two pilots he had known. It was a Cessna plane on which they reach Statesboro. When the plane doors opened, Aliyu's female friend got off and walked toward the back of the plane, whereas Aliyu headed to the front, where he was struck on the head twice by the plane's propeller. He was declared dead at the scene at Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport.
READ MORE
Tiffany Brown: Entrepreneur accused of defrauding FEMA of $156M in Hurricane Maria relief contract
Security guard at resort sexually assaults tourist after barging in her room at night
Jake Futch, Bulloch County Coroner confirmed that Aliyu had died immediately after being struck by the propeller despite calling an ambulance to the airport's ramp area where the incident took place at around 10.45 pm. “They flew to Savannah to go on a date, flew back, landed at the Statesboro Airport, and the young lady got off the plane and walked toward the back of the plane, and he got off the airplane and walked toward the front of the plane, and when he did, the propeller hit him," said Futch, reports Daily Mail.
According to Communications Manager Melanie Simon, Aliyu was a sophomore at the university and majored in management, “We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident that involved one of our students Sunday night.” Simon further said in a statement from Georgia Southern’s dean of Student Dr Aileen C Dowell, “I have already been in touch with his family and professors, and we have mobilized all available resources to provide counseling and any other assistance the university can give.”
Captain Todd Hutchens of the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office said, “Nobody is really at fault or anything, it was an accident, so we just have to communicate all of our information with them.” The details will be handed over to the Federal Aviation Administration and the National Transportation Safety Board. He added that the plane was parked with other planes and was stationary when the incident occurred, according to the report.
Hutchens further confirmed the investigation and said the sheriff’s office is working with the FAA and NTSB to determine what happened. Steve Kulm, a FAA spokesperson stated, "The FAA and NTSB will investigate. The NTSB will be in charge of the investigation and will provide all updates."