Three Sukhoi aircraft engineers die mysteriously in Indonesia

[bhramos]

Three Russians working for Sukhoi aircraft holding in Indonesia have died under unexplained circumstances, the head of the Russian embassy's consular department said on Tuesday.
"The warranty service workers of KnAAPO aviation construction company have died," Vladimir Pronin said, adding that the engineers died on Monday.
The Russian specialists were helping Indonesian Air Force servicemen to maintain and use Russian Su-fighters that were recently delivered to the air base in the city of Makassar in Indonesia's South Sulawesi province.
The cause of the deaths is being investigated, the diplomat said.
Indonesian Defense Minister, Purnomo Yusgiantoro, expressed his sincere condolence over the deaths and said the tragic incident would not affect Russian-Indonesian military technical cooperation.
Under a $300 million contract, signed in 2007, Russia will complete the delivery of three Su-fighters to Indonesia by the end of 2010 in addition to two Su-27SK and two Su-30MK fighters purchased in 2003.

Three Sukhoi aircraft workers die mysteriously in Indonesia | Russia | RIA Novosti

 

[bhramos]

Two Russian Aircraft Technicians Dead in Makassar

Makassar. Two Russian nationals who were in Makassar to help the Indonesian Air Force assemble and operate recently purchased Sukhoi fighter jets have died of unknown causes, an Air Force officer said on Monday.

First Air Marshal Agus Supriatna, the commander of the Hasanuddin Air Base in Makassar, South Sulawesi, confirmed the deaths and said the cause had yet to be determined.

"It's true that two Russians have died while on duty here in Makassar, but we can't say anything yet about the cause of death because it's still being investigated," Agus said.

The victims, identified only as Alexander and Voronim, were members of a 12-man warranty team that has been at the base since Sept. 5.

Agus did not reveal the date of either death, but said suspicions were raised after Alexander failed to show up to the bus that was routinely took the team from their hotel to the air base.

A check in his room found him dead under his bed, the air base commander said, without providing further details.

Meanwhile, based on preliminary medical observations, Voronim is suspected to have died of a heart attack, Agus said.

He also said that another Russian member of the team, Viktor Sapanov, was being treated for an undisclosed illness at the Stella Maris Hospital in Makassar.

Agus said he had been in communication with the Air Force headquarters in Jakarta and the Russian Embassy over the two deaths. He said he had also sought a permit to have autopsies conducted on the bodies.

No permission has yet been granted for the autopsies.

Agus said the two bodies would be flown back to Russia directly from Hasanuddin Air Base, but did not say when.

Russia's Komsomolsk-on-Amur Aircraft Production Association, which produces Sukhoi planes, has sent three pilots and 37 technicians in two teams — a warranty team and an assembling team — to Makassar for a year following Indonesia's purchase of three Su-27SKM and three Su-30MK2 fighter planes.

The aircraft, which have yet to be assembled, will be stationed in Makassar to reinforce the 11th Air Squadron, which is based there.

The first three planes were delivered in December 2008, while two arrived last Friday. The sixth is expected later this month.

Two Russian Aircraft Technicians Dead in Makassar | The Jakarta Globe

The third engineer just died. Local media speculated of alcohol related poisoning!

 

[RPK]

Russian aircraft engineers died from methanol poisoning – autopsy - RT Top Stories


A forensic examination has found traces of methanol, a poisonous alcohol used as fuel and solvent, in the bodies of the three Russian aviation specialists who died in Indonesia on Monday.

The evidence corresponds to methanol found in their apartment, Indonesian media report.

The newspaper adds that two other Russian technicians, who asked for medical help on Tuesday, also had symptoms of methanol poisoning. However, they appear to have consumed a smaller dose, since one of them has already recovered and the other one is in good condition.

All five men in question are technical specialists from the maintenance crew, which assists Indian clients with the six Sukhoi jets stationed at the Air Force base in Makassar, South Sulawesi.

The company announced that it is sending three employees to India to replace the deceased.