College student gets sliced by plane propeller during elaborate dinner date

Statesboro, Georgia - A college student took a date on a private plane ride, but after landing, he was tragically killed by the plane's propeller.

A Georgia college student rented a private plane for an extravagant first date, but upon landing, he was killed by the plane's propeller (file photo).
A Georgia college student rented a private plane for an extravagant first date, but upon landing, he was killed by the plane's propeller (file photo).  © PETER MUHLY / AFP

An elaborate date in Georgia ended horrifically for one young couple.

According to USA Today, the victim, identified as Sani Aliyu (21), took a female passenger aboard a single-engine Cessna 172 airplane for a whirlwind ride.

The plane was flown by a pilot and co-pilot who took the duo to an undisclosed location where they had their first dinner date.

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Upon returning to Statesboro-Bulloch County Airport, the night took a turn for the worse.

"The girl exits the airplane and walks to the back of the airplane and away from the plane," explained Bulloch County Coroner Jake Futch. "He walks out… toward the front of the airplane and the propeller strikes him twice in the head and once in the shoulder."

Aliyu was pronounced dead at the scene due to cerebral lacerations, and the incident was concluded to be an accidental death.

He was a sophomore at Georgia Southern University. The school's dean, Aileen Dowell, says the institution is "deeply saddened" about his passing.

"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," Dowell added.

An investigation is underway, but Todd Hutchens, captain of the Bulloch County Sheriff’s Office, said, "Nobody is really at fault or anything. It was an accident."

Cover photo: PETER MUHLY / AFP

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