The ATR 42-500 aircraft, which was previously reported missing, has been successfully located by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) on the peak of Bulusaraung Hill, Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi, on Sunday, January 18.
Confirming the discovery from Jakarta, Edy Prakoso, Basarnas’s Deputy of Operations and Preparedness, stated that ground SAR teams successfully identified the main fuselage after receiving reports of debris sightings from aerial surveillance teams.
How Did the Chronology Unfold?
The ill-fated aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, lost contact on Saturday, January 17, at 1:17 PM WITA (Central Indonesia Time), while traversing the border region between Maros and Pangkep in South Sulawesi.
The flight originated from Yogyakarta and was bound for Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, carrying a total of 11 individuals: eight crew members and three employees from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries (KKP).
According to Edy, the Makassar SAR Office detected the presence of the ATR 42-500 around 7:17 AM WITA on Sunday, January 18, when an aerial patrol aircraft spotted white debris in the Bulusaraung Hill area. This initial report was subsequently reconfirmed by a SAR helicopter.
By 8:02 AM WITA, ground teams had located a significant piece of aircraft debris on the northern slope of the hill. Just seven minutes later, the main fuselage of the aircraft was successfully identified, paving the way for further investigation.
Edy further noted that the ongoing evacuation process is significantly hampered by challenging weather conditions, particularly high wind speeds and dense fog. These factors are critically impacting the ability of helicopters to safely deploy personnel to locations near the crash site.
How Were Search and Evacuation Efforts Conducted?
Search operations for the ATR 42-500 commenced immediately after authorities received reports of the aircraft losing contact on Saturday, January 17.
Andi Sultan, Head of Operations Section for Basarnas Makassar, revealed that his team concentrated their search efforts on at least three specific locations, strongly suspected to be linked to the aircraft’s last known position.
The search involved both ground and aerial teams, including helicopters, to meticulously sweep the mountainous, hard-to-reach terrain. This comprehensive approach aimed to map out potential crash sites from above.
“There are several points we suspect, and our teams are currently heading to these locations,” Andi told reporters in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi.
Andi identified the three primary areas as Mount Bulusaraung, Bulu’ Paria, and Panaikang Village.
“The terrain is quite challenging, and some areas are only accessible on foot,” he explained.
A formidable force of 400 joint personnel from Basarnas, TNI (Indonesian Armed Forces), Polri (Indonesian National Police), local government agencies, and volunteers were deployed to accelerate the search operation.
Slowly but surely, the intensive efforts of the joint team began to yield results.
On Sunday morning, January 18, joint personnel discovered several pieces of aircraft debris. The initial find, a small fragment believed to be part of a plane window, was reported around 7:46 AM WITA. This crucial piece was located at coordinates 04°55’48” South Latitude and 119°44’52” East Longitude.
Just minutes later, at 7:49 AM WITA, the team reported finding a large section of the aircraft’s fuselage.
Furthermore, by 7:52 AM WITA, field reports indicated that the front section of the aircraft had ruptured open, and the tail section was discovered on the southern lower slope of the incident site.
As these discoveries unfolded, SAR units adjusted their movements, shifting Search and Rescue Units (SRU) to several prioritized points.
Aerial monitoring using a Caracal Helicopter at 8:02 AM WITA successfully identified large debris within the search area. However, the steep and rugged terrain presented a significant challenge for the ongoing evacuation process.
At 8:11 AM WITA, field teams requested additional mountaineering equipment to access locations situated on the treacherous steep slopes.
Muhammad Arif Anwar, Head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Class A Office and SAR Mission Coordinator (SMC), declared that the discovery of debris served as a vital clue in narrowing down the search area.
“The finding of these aircraft fragments is a critical clue in narrowing our search area. The joint SAR team is currently focused on securing the site, documenting findings, and adapting operational tactics to the field conditions,” Arif explained.
He added that personnel safety remains a paramount concern, given the extreme terrain at the incident site.
“Several points are located in sloped areas and require mountaineering equipment. The safety of our personnel remains our top priority throughout this operation,” Arif emphasized.
In their field operations, SRUs moved according to assigned sectors.
SRU 1 began descending westward using ropes.
SRU 3 remained at the peak, with some personnel successfully moving to a second point.
Meanwhile, SRU 4, which had been approximately 200 meters from its mission point, found no safe access to proceed. After coordinating with the main command post, they were directed to return. “The logistics team has also moved towards the peak to drop off equipment and supplies to support the continuity of operations,” Arif clarified.
As of Sunday afternoon, the team at the peak reported finding one victim, who is currently being evacuated via the climbing route.
Concurrently, SRU 3 discovered additional aircraft fragments, including parts of the frame and seats, and visually identified the location of the aircraft engine based on field reports.
“At 2:20 PM WITA, one male victim was found at coordinates 04°54′ 44″S and 119° 44′ 48″ S, approximately 200 meters deep in a ravine near the aircraft debris, and the evacuation process is currently underway,” Arif concluded.
What Caused the Plane Crash?
The precise cause of the ATR 42-500 crash is still under investigation, according to the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT).
“We, the KNKT, are still far from concluding the cause of this accident,” asserted KNKT Head, Soerjanto Tjahyono, during a press conference at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, South Sulawesi, on Sunday, January 18.
Earlier rumors suggested the ATR 42-500 crashed due to a malfunction in its emergency locator transmitter (ELT), causing the aircraft to strike the mountain. Soerjanto underlined that ELT damage typically occurs as a result of impact with a mountain, which then prevents the aircraft from transmitting a signal.
“Therefore, we have not stated any cause for the accident,” Soerjanto affirmed.
KNKT is still actively gathering information to investigate the ATR 42-500 crash. For instance, they have requested Basarnas teams on the ground to photograph the aircraft’s tail section.
“Because the black box is located in the tail section,” he added.
In a separate statement, Adisutjipto Airport management confirmed that the departure of the Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500 complied with all established procedures.
“We followed all applicable airport procedures, from the waiting lounge to boarding for Makassar,” stated Wibowo Cahyono, General Manager of Adisutjipto Airport, on Saturday, January 17.
Wibowo explained that every stage of the departure process, from security checks at the Security Check Point to boarding, was executed in accordance with airport regulations.
“All procedures, from departure to X-ray inspection at the Security Check Point (SCP), were duly carried out,” Wibowo concluded.
Track Record of Incidents Involving ATR Aircraft
Accidents involving ATR aircraft are not uncommon.
In 2023, a Trigana Air PK YSP ATR 42-500 aircraft skidded off the runway at Kamanap Airport, Serui, Papua, during takeoff. The aircraft was reportedly severely damaged. Trigana Air management stated that the aircraft was in good condition before the flight. While this incident resulted in no fatalities, 23 of the 42 passengers required hospitalization. Among the dozens injured, three sustained serious spinal and neck impacts.
This report will be updated periodically.
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Summary
The missing ATR 42-500 aircraft was successfully located on Bulusaraung Hill, Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi, by Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) on Sunday, January 18. The plane, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, lost contact on Saturday, January 17, at 1:17 PM WITA while flying from Yogyakarta to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. It was carrying 11 individuals, including eight crew members and three Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries employees. Debris was initially spotted by aerial surveillance, with ground teams identifying the main fuselage later that morning.
Evacuation efforts are significantly hampered by challenging weather conditions, including high wind speeds and dense fog, which restrict helicopter operations. The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) is actively investigating the precise cause of the crash, emphasizing that it is too early to draw conclusions. As of Sunday afternoon, one male victim has been found, and the challenging evacuation process is currently underway from the treacherous, steep crash site.