Potentially hundreds of people were saved because of the young airport worker’s selfless actions.
Anthonius Gunawan Agung lost his life when the 7.7 quake tore through the Indonesian city of Palu on the island of Sulawesi.
The brave 21-year-old staff member at Mutiara Sis Al Jufri Airport stayed at his post while his colleagues fled for their lives as the air traffic control tower swayed turbulently from the shocks.
Tributes to Mr Agung’s bravery were led by Yohannes Sirait, spokesman for Air Navigation Indonesia.
Mr Sirait said: “He gave clearance for this flight, and if he left his post before the plane was airborne, hundreds of people inside the plane might be in danger.
“Unfortunately we lost him this morning before the helicopter reached Palu.”
Mr Agung insisted on helping to guide Air Flight 6321 off the ground as gaping fissures and cracks began to appear on the runway.
As the plane safely took off, further tremors battered the air traffic control tower.
Concerned he might be trapped by the falling debris, Mr Agung leapt four stories off the tower.
He landed on the ground and sustained a broken leg with internal injuries.
Mr Tagung was rushed to hospital before being transferred by helicopter to a larger facility.
But he died during the transportation just one month before his 22nd birthday.
Hundreds of tributes have flooded in and Mr Agung was given a hero’s farewell earlier on Saturday.
The send-off involved soldiers carrying his body to be transported to the burial.
AirNav Indonesia officials have raised Mr Agung’s rank by two levels saying that he “demonstrated tremendous dedication” in providing flight safety.
The death toll from Friday’s earthquake and tsunami has reached at least 384 people, with more than 500 people injured.
