JABARTODAY.COM-BANDUNG. A student from the Department of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) of Bandung Institute of Technology (ITB), Muhammad Rasyid Ghifary, passed away during a test flight of an unmanned aircraft at Sulaiman Airfield in Bandung Regency on Tuesday (6/6/2023).
The test flight was conducted by the Aksantara Student Activity Unit (UKM) under the Directorate of Student Affairs at ITB. The UKM, consisting of members from various majors, often sends its members to participate in the Flying Robot Contest (KRT).
According to the Dean of the Faculty of Mechanical Engineering at ITB, Prof. Dr. Tatacipta Dirgantara, the incident occurred around 5 p.m. Rasyid, along with his friends from the Aksantara UKM, was conducting a test flight of an unmanned aircraft in preparation for the upcoming KRT competition in August.
The unmanned aircraft, weighing 8 kilograms, was launched using a spring-loaded mechanism. However, due to the wet ground caused by rain, the peg of the spring mechanism came off and hit the back of Rasyid’s neck, extending to his jaw.
Rasyid was immediately taken to the hospital, but unfortunately, his life could not be saved. Tatacipta confirmed that the test flight of the unmanned aircraft had followed proper procedures, but it was the wet ground condition that led to the accident.
This information is in line with the statement from Ridho, who was Rasyid’s batchmate at FTMD ITB. Ridho added that it was Rasyid’s first test flight at Sulaiman Airfield during his time as an ITB student.
The chronology of the incident involved Rasyid conducting a test flight of an unmanned aircraft. The aircraft had to be launched using a spring mechanism, and during the launch, the peg that secured the spring was not properly fastened due to the soft ground. Several people were involved in pulling the launch mechanism, and when it was pulled, the peg came off and hit Rasyid’s jaw.
Rasyid has been laid to rest by his family in Jakarta on Wednesday afternoon (7/6/2023). Tatacipta expressed the deep sorrow of the ITB community over the loss of Rasyid, who was known as an active and accomplished student.
“The Rector, Leadership, and Entire ITB Community mourn the passing of Muhammad Rasyid Ghifary, a student of Mechanical Engineering at the Faculty of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering (FTMD) ITB. May the deceased find a noble place in His presence,” stated the accompanying written statement on the official social media platform of ITB. [than]
