Makassar, Indonesia. Indonesian authorities have located the wreckage of an ATR 42-500 fishery surveillance aircraft that vanished in South Sulawesi after losing contact with air traffic control. Rescue crews reported debris in a mountainous area near the Maros region amid thick fog.
Aircraft disappearance and flight details
The ATR 42-500, registration PK-THT and operated by Indonesia Air Transport, lost contact with air traffic control at approximately 1:30 pm local time while flying over the Maros region. The flight had departed from Yogyakarta and was heading to Makassar when it disappeared.
FlightRadar24 data showed the aircraft was flying at low altitude over the sea, with the last signal received at 04:20 UTC, about 20 kilometres northeast of Makassar Airport.
People on board and mission
The aircraft was carrying eight crew members and three passengers, all staff from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. It was operating a chartered mission to monitor local waters.
Search and recovery operation
Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the local rescue service, said 1,200 personnel are deploying to the crash site to recover the 11 people on board, with efforts focused on locating victims and searching for any potential survivors. Rescue executive Andi Sultan said rugged terrain, persistent fog and high winds are hindering operations.
The wreckage was found in a rugged mountainous area shrouded in thick fog, about 1,500 kilometres from Jakarta.
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