Rescuers located the wreckage of an ATR 42-500 and recovered the body of one of the 11 people aboard after the plane went missing while flying from Yogyakarta to Makassar. Debris and remains were found on Mount Bulusaraung in Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, but fog and steep terrain delayed recovery operations. More than 1,000 personnel are involved in the ongoing search; the cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Wreckage of Missing Indonesia Air Transport Plane Found; One Body Recovered
Rescuers during the search operation on Mount Bulusaraung, which is being hampered by thick fog and difficult terrain - Basarnas Handout/EPA/Shutterstock
Rescue teams in eastern Indonesia discovered the body of one of the 11 people aboard an Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) aircraft that went missing mid-flight, and located scattered wreckage on Mount Bulusaraung, officials said.
Wreckage was found on the mountainside during the operation led by Basarnas, the Indonesian National Search and Rescue Agency - Basarnas/Handout/EPA/Shutterstock
The ATR 42-500 turboprop lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday while flying from Yogyakarta on Java to Makassar on Sulawesi. Searchers found wreckage and human remains in a steep mountain ravine on Sunday, but fog and rugged terrain delayed recovery operations until Monday.
Rescuers look for the wreckage from a helicopter and, below, climb towards the crash site - Basarnas/Handout/EPA/Shutterstock
Wreckage and Casualties
Local official Muhammad Arif Anwar said teams had located debris believed to include parts of the fuselage, the tail section and windows, along with an engine and passenger seats. One body has been recovered; the other 10 people who were aboard remain missing.
Muchtamir/AFP via Getty Images
Who Was On Board
Authorities reported that three government workers and eight crew members were on board. The aircraft had been conducting an aerial monitoring mission for Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
Search Effort
Search-and-rescue operations on land and by air have involved more than 1,000 personnel, including members of the air force, police and volunteers. An aerial unit was dispatched to the crash site inside Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park, which borders the city of Makassar. The site is roughly 1,500 km northeast of Jakarta.
Investigation
The cause of the accident remains under investigation. IAT said in a statement that the aircraft had experienced technical problems in the past but had been declared airworthy before the flight to Makassar. Officials have not yet released a final determination on what caused the crash.
Indonesia relies heavily on air travel to connect its thousands of islands, and the country has experienced several fatal aviation accidents in recent years, highlighting ongoing safety challenges.
Authorities continue search and recovery efforts and have appealed for patience as teams contend with difficult weather and terrain. Local officials did not immediately release the identities of those on board, pending family notifications.
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