Search Underway for Indonesia’s Missing ATR 42-500 Aircraft with 11 Onboard in South Sulawesi Mountains

New Delhi: A turboprop ATR 42-500 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport vanished from radar on Saturday while on a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province, Indonesian officials confirmed.

The plane, carrying eight crew members and three passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, lost contact with air traffic control shortly after 1:17 p.m. local time (05:17 GMT) near the Leang-Leang area in Maros Regency, a mountainous district in South Sulawesi.

According to Endah Purnama Sari, spokesperson for the Transportation Ministry, the aircraft disappeared moments after controllers instructed the pilots to adjust their approach alignment for landing at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. Following the loss of radio communication, an emergency distress phase was announced.

A large-scale search and rescue operation has been launched, involving multiple teams supported by air force helicopters, drones, and ground personnel. Efforts are concentrated in the rugged terrain of Bulusaraung National Park, which spans the Maros and Pangkep districts and features steep slopes and dense vegetation that have hindered access.

Hopes of locating the wreckage increased after hikers on Mount Bulusaraung reported spotting scattered debris, including markings consistent with Indonesia Air Transport's logo, along with small fires still burning at the site. Maj. Gen. Bangun Nawoko, commander of the Hasanuddin military region in South Sulawesi, stated that these reports have been relayed to official teams and are being verified as rescue teams work to reach the remote location.

Weather conditions at the time included cloudy skies with visibility of approximately 8 kilometres, though the challenging mountainous environment has complicated the ongoing operation.

Also Read: “Where There Was Gunfire, There Is Music Now”: PM Modi at Guwahati