ISLAMABAD: Indonesian authorities launched an extensive search and rescueoperation on Saturday after an ATR 42-500 fisheries surveillance aircraftdisappeared from radar with 11 people aboard, raising serious fears fortheir safety in a challenging mountainous region. The incident occurredduring the final approach to Makassar, highlighting the inherent risks ofaviation operations in Indonesia’s vast and diverse archipelago. Officialsfrom the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) confirmed the loss ofcontact, prompting immediate mobilisation of resources to locate themissing plane and its occupants.
The aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport and chartered by theMinistry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, departed from Yogyakarta en routeto Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. Contact was lostaround 1:30 p.m. local time (0530 GMT) near the Maros region, specificallyin the vicinity of Leang-Leang village. The plane carried eight crewmembers and three passengers, who were ministry staff engaged in routineairborne surveillance to monitor fisheries activities and combat illegalfishing practices across Indonesian waters.
According to Basarnas operations director Edy Prakoso, the last recordedposition of the aircraft was at coordinates 04°57’08” S latitude and119°42’54” E longitude, placing it in a rugged limestone mountainous areaknown for its steep cliffs, dense forests, and karst formations. Thisterrain has significantly complicated initial search efforts, as groundteams face difficult access while helicopters and drones provide aerialsupport. The declaration of a distress phase by air traffic controlfollowed instructions for the plane to correct its approach path to SultanHasanuddin International Airport.
Around 400 personnel, including military, police, and civilian rescueunits, have been deployed to the suspected crash site in the Bantimurunglimestone mountains. Reports from local media and social media indicatepossible debris sightings on a mountain, including scattered wreckage andsmall fires, though these remain unverified by official teams. Hikers inthe area alerted authorities, prompting accelerated verification processesamid hopes that survivors might be located despite the low-altitude flightpath over challenging geography.
The ATR 42-500 is a reliable regional turboprop aircraft manufactured bythe Franco-Italian company ATR, capable of carrying between 42 and 50passengers in standard configuration. In this specialised surveillancerole, it was equipped for maritime patrol duties under the Ministry ofMarine Affairs and Fisheries, led by Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono. Theministry confirmed that the three passengers were employees conductingessential monitoring missions to support sustainable fisheries management,a critical sector for Indonesia’s economy and food security.
Indonesia Air Transport, a charter operator specialising in services forgovernment and private sectors including oil, gas, and mining, maintainsthe aircraft under strict safety protocols. The plane, registered PK-THTand approximately 25 years old, had been flying at a relatively lowaltitude, which limited radar coverage in the final stages. Flight trackingdata from sources like Flightradar24 showed the last signal at about 20kilometres northeast of Makassar Airport, with a recorded speed of 409 km/hat an altitude of 1,569 metres.
The disappearance has drawn international attention, with ATR issuing astatement expressing support for local authorities in the investigation.Franco-Italian specialists are assisting as preliminary inquiries begininto potential causes, including weather conditions, mechanical issues, ornavigational challenges during descent. Indonesia’s aviation sector hasfaced scrutiny in recent years due to several incidents, underscoring theneed for enhanced safety measures in remote operations.
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As night fell, search operations continued with heightened urgency,focusing on the mountainous district bordering Makassar. Authoritiesestablished coordination centres at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport and nearbylocations to manage information flow and resource allocation. The outcomeof this effort remains uncertain, with families awaiting news amid growingsuspense over the fate of the 11 individuals aboard.
Source:https://www.reuters.com/world/asia-pacific/indonesia-searching-missing-surveillance-plane-with-11-onboard-2026-01-17
Fisheries, Basarnas
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