Wreckage of missing Indonesian aircraft found during search operation

Indonesian search and rescue teams on Sunday recovered wreckage of a missing turboprop aircraft believed to have crashed a day earlier in a mountainous region of Sulawesi island, with all 11 people on board feared dead .

The ATR 42-500 aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was flying from Yogyakarta on Java island to Makassar , the capital of South Sulawesi province, when it disappeared from radar on Saturday afternoon. The plane was last tracked at around 1:17 pm near the Leang-Leang area of Maros district after air traffic control instructed the pilot to correct its approach alignment amid cloudy weather conditions.

Though the aircraft was a relatively small turboprop, officials said the sudden loss of radar contact and the apparent severity of the crash raised concerns about the challenging terrain and rapidly changing weather in the region.

The aircraft was carrying eight crew members and three passengers from the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, who were onboard as part of an airborne maritime surveillance mission.

A rescue team aboard an Indonesian air force helicopter on Sunday morning spotted what appeared to be a small aircraft window in a forested area on the slopes of Mount Bulusaraung . Subsequent ground searches led to the recovery of larger debris believed to be parts of the main fuselage and tail section, scattered across a steep northern slope.

“The discovery of the aircraft’s main sections significantly narrows the search zone and provides a crucial lead for focusing rescue operations,” said Muhammad Arif Anwar , head of Makassar’s Search and Rescue Office, adding that joint teams were now prioritising the search for victims.

Rescue efforts have been slowed by strong winds, heavy fog and rugged terrain, according to military officials. Photos and videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency showed rescuers trekking along narrow mountain ridgelines enveloped in thick fog to reach the scattered wreckage.

Indonesia relies heavily on air and sea transport to connect its more than 17,000 islands, many of which are separated by rugged geography and unpredictable weather patterns, factors that continue to pose risks for aviation operations.