A college student as reportedly died after being struck by the propeller of a plane he hired for a date. According to The Telegraph, the Bullock County Coroner’s Office confirmed the death of Sani Aliyu, a student at Georgia Southern University, after the propeller of the rented Cessna hit him in the head.
- Aliyu wanted to be romantic by renting the plane. Reports say he was taking a woman out on a date and believed the plane would be an unconventional and extreme romantic gesture. They took a flight to Savannah before returning to Statesboro-Bullock County Airport. All seemed to be going well enough.
- Things went wrong when they exited the plane. According to coroner Jake Futch’s statement to McClatchy News, the victim’s date got out at the back of the plane while he exited from the front. “[Aliyu] got out and walked toward the front. And when he did, the propeller hit him in the head, killing him instantly.”
- Bullock County Emergency Medical Service was called to the scene immediately. However, Aliyu had already died from his injuries by the time they arrived, the Federal Aviation Administration told PEOPLE.
- Officials from Aliyu’s school have expressed their condolences. Melanie Simón, a spokesperson for Georgia Southern University, told USA Today that Aliyu was majoring in management at the school. Dean Aileen Dowell also released a statement following the tragic accident, saying: “We were deeply saddened to hear about the tragic incident that involved one of our students Sunday night. 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.”
The FAA and The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is said to be continuing to investigate the accident and will release updates as and when they are available.
