Plane Lost Contact in Indonesia
JAKARTA, Indonesia – An aircraft carrying 11 individuals lost communication with ground control on Saturday as it neared a mountainous area between Java and Sulawesi, according to officials. Consequently, a search and rescue operation is currently underway.
The ATR 42-500 turboprop, managed by Indonesian Air Transport, was en route from Yogyakarta to the capital of South Sulawesi when it vanished from radar, stated Transport Ministry spokesperson Enda Purnama Sari.
The last known location of the plane was tracked at 1:17 pm local time in the Leang Leang district of Maros, located in South Sulawesi province.
Sari mentioned that several search and rescue teams are engaged, with assistance from air force helicopters, drones, and ground units.
Encouragement for finding wreckage increased after hikers on Bursarung Mountain reported spotting debris that appeared to match the logo of Indonesian Air Transport, along with evidence of a small ongoing fire at the scene.
Major General Bangung Nawoko, commander of South Sulawesi’s Hasanuddin military, noted that this sighting has been communicated to relevant authorities and confirmed by rescue teams heading for the location.
Sari reported that the plane disappeared shortly after air traffic control provided new approach instructions. Following the final directive, radio contact ceased, prompting the controller to declare an emergency situation.
The search efforts are now focusing on the mountainous terrain, where the plane is believed to have strayed from its intended route to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. The aircraft had a crew of eight, alongside three personnel from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
At the time of the incident, Sari noted that weather conditions were cloudy with visibility around 5 miles.
Nawoko observed that the challenging topography of Bulu Saraung National Park complicates the search operations, as it links Maros and Pankep districts.
Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trengono mentioned during a late Saturday press conference that three officials from his ministry were on board as part of an airborne surveillance initiative to enhance Indonesia’s fisheries management.
Indonesia, the world’s largest archipelagic nation with over 280 million inhabitants, depends heavily on air travel and ferry services to connect more than 17,000 islands. In recent years, the country has faced numerous transport accidents due to insufficient safety regulations.
