Indonesian search and rescue teams have recovered debris from a missing plane that is believed to have crashed while approaching a mountainous area on Sulawesi island during cloudy weather. The turboprop ATR 42-500 disappeared from radar on its route from Yogyakarta, Java, to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi, shortly after being directed by air traffic control to adjust its approach alignment.
The aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was last seen around 01:17 p.m. in the Leang-Leang area of Maros, a mountainous region of South Sulawesi. It was carrying eight crew members and three passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on an airborne maritime surveillance mission.
Rescuers aboard an air force helicopter spotted what seemed to be a small aircraft window in a forested area on Mount Bulusaraung’s slope on Sunday morning. Subsequently, ground teams found larger debris resembling the main fuselage and tail scattered on a steep northern slope, according to Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office.
“The discovery of the main sections of the aircraft has helped narrow the search area, providing a crucial lead in locating the victims, especially any potential survivors,” stated Anwar. Despite challenging weather conditions, rescue teams are persevering in reaching the wreckage site, as confirmed by Maj.-Gen. Bangun Nawoko, the Hasanuddin military commander of South Sulawesi.
Images and footage shared by the National Search and Rescue Agency depict rescuers navigating through dense fog along a rugged mountain ridge to access the scattered wreckage. Indonesia, with its vast archipelago of over 17,000 islands, heavily relies on air and sea transport for connectivity. The country has witnessed various transportation accidents in recent years, encompassing plane crashes, bus incidents, and ferry disasters.