Sani Aliyu, 21, was a Georgia Southern University sophomore student from Atlanta. On Sunday, October 16, he rented a single-engine Cessna plane at Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport in southeast Georgia to go on a dinner date with some friends. Two of his friends were the pilot and co-pilot. The other was a female companion.
What started as an enjoyable evening went terribly wrong.
After the group went out to dinner in Savannah, Georgia and returned to the airport, Aliyu disembarked with his female friend, and accidentally walked in front of the plane.
The propeller was still whirling.
Aliyu was hit in the head with the propeller and was killed on the spot. The shocking accident happened a little after the plane landed safely at about 10:30 pm.
The Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) and National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) are investigating the incident, according to FAA spokesman Steve Kulm.
Sani Aliyu was a resident of Atlanta and a business management major at the college. He was originally from Nigeria.
Dr. Aileen Dowell, Georgia Southern University’s Dean of Students expressed her sympathies to the college community and the student’s family.
“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,” she announced.
