(6/14/2008)
The General Manager of PT Angkasa Pura Ngurah Rai the government-owned company that manages Bali's international airport died suddenly on Thursday, June 12, 2008 after suffering an apparent stroke.
The popular 55 year-old Nyoman Suwetja Putra died at Bali's Graha Asih Hospital after being rushed from his airport office to the nearby hospital following his collapse shortly after 8:00 a.m..
A native of Payangan, Ubud, Suwetja is survived by his wife, four children, and grandchildren.
Following an assignment as airport manager in Lombok, Suwetja was appointed to head the Bali airport on April 10, 2007. Although in charge in Bali's airport for only little more than one year, he is credited with many improvements in facilities and services at Ngurah Rai and for making a significant contribution in improving safety and security for Bali air travelers. His work unit in Bali has earned praise from international safety inspectors, an award for zero accidents and acknowledgement as a leading taxpayer in Bali.
Prior to his sudden death, Suwetja had finalized plans for a complete rebuilding of the airports 39,000 square meter domestic terminal.
Local press reports have heaped praise on the many accomplishments of Suwetja during his short assignment in Bali, including playing a fundamental role in helping to lobby the U.S. Transportation Security Administration (TSA) to remove the airport from the list of "dangerous" airports and paving the way for the recent revocation of a U.S. Travel warning for Indonesia.
Ngurah Rai Gusti Ketut Mangku, the Commercial Manager for Development at PT Angkasa Pura has been named as interim manager of the airport.
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