An Indonesian fishing monitoring aircraft carrying 11 people went missing on Saturday (January 17) in South Sulawesi province. The latest eyewitness reports indicate that the aircraft crashed in the mountains of Maros, with the fate of the 11 crew members and passengers currently unknown. Rescue teams are braving harsh weather conditions and thick fog to advance towards the crash site.
The ATR 42-500 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport lost contact with air traffic control (ATC) in South Sulawesi province at around 1:30 PM local time. The plane was en route from Yogyakarta to the capital Makassar.
Before losing contact, the aircraft reportedly received multiple course correction instructions, indicating that it had deviated from its intended approach path. Reports confirmed there were 8 crew members and 3 passengers on board.
According to local witnesses quoted by Reuters, the search operation has made initial progress. Hikers near the summit of Mount Bulusaraung discovered scattered aircraft wreckage and remnants of fire. Sultan, a rescue official, stated, “We suspect the plane crashed near that mountain peak and have deployed personnel to the location.”
Approximately 400 rescue personnel, including military and police, are involved in the search and rescue efforts. However, strong winds and thick fog in the area are severely impeding helicopter reconnaissance operations.
The aircraft was contracted by the Indonesian government for fisheries monitoring tasks. Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, confirmed that the 3 passengers aboard were ministry staff.
ATR, the aircraft manufacturer, has been informed of the incident and stated that experts are collaborating with Indonesian authorities to conduct an investigation. The specific cause of the accident is still under investigation.