ASIATODAY.ID, MAKASSAR – An ATR 42-500 aircraft has crashed in the mountainous region of South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Authorities confirmed the incident as search and rescue teams reported that victims have begun to be recovered at the crash site on Wednesday, January 21, 2026,
The plane lost contact with air traffic control (ATC) while flying over Mount Bulusaraung in Pangkep Regency amid foggy weather and limited visibility. Shortly after the last communication, the aircraft disappeared from radar, triggering an emergency response.
Initial Timeline of the Incident
According to early reports, the turboprop was operating a regional flight when communication with controllers was suddenly lost on January 17, 2026. Repeated attempts to re-establish contact failed, and the aircraft was later declared missing.
Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency, supported by the military, police, and local volunteers, launched a large-scale search operation by air and ground.
After hours of intensive searching, teams located aircraft debris scattered along the slopes of Mount Bulusaraung, a conservation area with rugged and challenging terrain.
Official Explanation from the Minister of Transportation
Indonesia’s Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi confirmed that the ATR 42-500, registered PK-THT, operated by PT Indonesia Air Transport, was conducting a state monitoring mission for maritime purposes.
The flight was chartered by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) and flew from Yogyakarta to Makassar, carrying 10 people, consisting of 7 crew members and 3 KKP personnel.
During a parliamentary hearing with Commission V of the Indonesian House of Representatives on January 20, 2026, the Minister explained that issues began when the aircraft entered South Sulawesi airspace.
“At 12:23 WIT, ATC Makassar instructed the aircraft to approach Runway 21 at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport,” Dudy stated.
However, the aircraft was observed deviating from its intended approach path. Despite corrective instructions, the plane failed to return to the landing route and lost contact, leading to an immediate emergency declaration.
Victims Recovered
Rescue teams have so far recovered two bodies from separate locations near the crash site. One victim was identified as a 33-year-old female flight attendant, while another male victim is undergoing formal identification at Bhayangkara Hospital in Makassar.
The Minister also confirmed that one male body had been successfully evacuated from a steep ravine hundreds of meters deep.
Evacuation Challenges and Extreme Weather
Rescue operations have faced extreme conditions, including steep cliffs, dense forest, thick fog, and continuous rain. Teams are using mountaineering equipment and specialized ropes, with military drones deployed to visually locate aircraft debris.
“Cloud cover is very thick, with rain from morning until evening, severely restricting rescue operations,” the Minister said during a visit to the Balocci subdistrict coordination post.
KNKT Investigation
The government emphasized that the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) will conduct a thorough investigation to determine the exact cause of the aircraft’s deviation after the search and rescue operation is complete.
As of this report, SAR operations are ongoing, while families of passengers and crew await updates at the designated coordination center.
This incident once again highlights the challenges of aviation safety in Indonesia, an archipelagic nation highly dependent on regional air travel and frequently confronted with extreme weather and difficult terrain. (AT Network)
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