For most surfers, the sketchiest part of an Indo strike mission happens in the water. But for Aussie Joel Scott, it happened before the plane even left the runway.
Scott recently found himself at the center of a viral social media storm after posting footage from a small Lion Air aircraft bound for remote Indonesia. While boarding the plane, he noticed something unusual: what appeared to be cable ties attached near the propeller.
The sight immediately set off alarm bells.
“THIS IS INSANE!!! Cable tie holding the prop together,” Scott wrote.
As any traveling surfer knows, reaching some of Indonesia’s most remote waves often requires hopping aboard tiny prop planes that connect far-flung islands scattered across the archipelago. Most passengers accept a certain amount of adventure as part of the experience. Seeing what looked like zip ties holding together a critical aircraft component, however, was enough to make even seasoned travelers uneasy.
Scott’s videos quickly spread across social media, with viewers questioning whether the aircraft was safe to fly.
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The footage generated so much attention that Lion Air eventually issued a public response.
According to the airline, the cable ties were not being used as a structural repair. Instead, the company explained they were part of a standard maintenance procedure used to secure protective coverings and ensure components remain properly positioned while the aircraft is on the ground. In translated comments reported by local media, the airline emphasized that the aircraft had undergone all required inspections and was fully airworthy before departure.
In other words, the zip ties weren’t holding the propeller together. They just looked like they were. That distinction may have done little to calm nerves before takeoff.
For surfers accustomed to traveling the globe in search of waves, few scenarios inspire more dread than questioning the integrity of the aircraft carrying you to your destination. The combination of a remote airstrip, a small prop plane, and visible cable ties was enough to create a nightmare scenario in the minds of thousands of viewers online.
Fortunately, the story had a happy ending.
The flight proceeded without incident, the aircraft performed exactly as intended, and Scott arrived safely in Indonesia ready to do what he came for in the first place: go surfing. And he returned home with a smile, confident the plane would fly safely.
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