Search and rescue teams in Indonesia have located the wreckage of a passenger plane that vanished over a mountainous region with 11 people on board.
Discovery in Dense Forest
The aircraft, an ATR 42-500 turboprop operated by Indonesia Air Transport, disappeared from radar on Saturday, 17th January 2026, at 1.17pm local time (6.17am UK time). It was on a maritime surveillance flight carrying eight crew members and three passengers and was approaching the provincial capital of Makassar on Sulawesi island when air traffic control instructed it to correct its alignment.
On Sunday morning, a rescue helicopter searching the cloudy Mount Bulusaraung range first spotted a small aircraft window in a forested area. Ground teams subsequently found larger debris scattered across a steep northern slope.
Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the discovery. "The discovery of the aircraft’s main sections significantly narrows the search zone and offers a crucial clue for tightening the search area," he stated at a news conference.
Challenging Search Operation
More than 1,000 personnel from combined ground and air teams are now battling heavy fog, strong winds, and extremely rugged terrain to reach the crash site. Official photos and videos show rescuers trekking along a steep, fog-shrouded mountain ridgeline.
"Our joint search and rescue teams are now focusing on searching for the victims, especially those who might still be alive," Anwar added, indicating the operation has shifted from locating the plane to a potential recovery mission.
Indonesia's Aviation Safety Record
This incident highlights ongoing concerns about air safety in Indonesia, a vast archipelago nation that relies heavily on air and sea transport to connect its 17,000 islands. The country has suffered several fatal air accidents in recent years.
In a tragic reminder of the risks, six passengers and two crew members were killed in a helicopter crash in South Kalimantan province in September 2025. Less than two weeks later, four people died in another helicopter accident in Papua province.
The investigation into the cause of Saturday's ATR 42-500 crash is expected to begin once the immediate search and recovery efforts are complete.
