Indonesian Plane Goes Missing over Rugged Terrain

An Indonesian regional passenger aircraft carrying 11 people went missing today, after losing contact with air traffic control while flying over mountainous terrain in South Sulawesi, according to Indonesian media and official sources.

The Ministry of Transportation said the aircraft, an ATR 42-500 operated by Indonesia Air Transport and registered as PK-THT, was on a domestic flight from Yogyakarta to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar when communication was lost during the descent phase.

The ministry reported that contact with the plane was lost at 1:17 p.m. local time as the crew attempted to adjust their approach path over the Maros area after air traffic controllers detected a deviation from the planned landing route.

Officials said there were 11 people on board, including eight crew members and three passengers employed by Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.

Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency said search efforts were concentrated in the Bantimurung mountain range in Maros district, an area known for its dense forests and difficult access.

A 25-member rescue team was divided into three units to reach the last radar coordinates recorded near the Liang-Liang area.

Local media reported that a military helicopter from the Hasanuddin command detected a possible heat signature and smoke rising from a heavily forested zone, raising hopes that the aircraft’s location may have been identified.

Emergency medical teams and ambulances were placed on standby near Maros as ground search units worked to reach the suspected site.

Mountaineers in the Bulu Saraung area also reported hearing an explosion and seeing burning debris bearing the airline’s logo, though authorities said these accounts were still being verified on the ground.

Indonesia’s meteorological agency said weather conditions at the time were partly cloudy, but thick fog in mountainous areas significantly reduced visibility and hampered aerial search efforts using helicopters and drones.

The missing aircraft, an ATR 42-500 manufactured in 2000, is a twin-turboprop commonly used for regional routes. The Franco-Italian aircraft manufacturer ATR said it was ready to support the official investigation once more information becomes available.

Authorities said search and rescue operations would continue around the clock as efforts intensify to locate the aircraft and determine the cause of the incident.