Wreckage of an ATR 42-500 aircraft is found by search and rescue personnel in the Mount Bulusaraung area, Pangkep District, South Sulawesi, on Sunday, Jan 18, 2026. -- Photo: ANTARA/HO-Humas TNI AD/am
JAKARTA (Bernama-ANTARA): Indonesia has opened an investigation into the crash of an Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500 on Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi, as search teams continue recovery efforts, reported ANTARA News Agency.
The Transportation Ministry said no conclusions have been reached on the cause, and weather conditions are among the factors being examined, civil aviation chief Lukman F. Laisa said on Monday.
The Civil Aviation Directorate reported the turboprop, registered PK-THT, lost contact on Saturday during a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar.
Combined search teams later found aircraft debris on Mount Bulusaraung, on the border of Maros and Pangkajene Kepulauan districts in South Sulawesi, Lukman said.
The crash site is about 26.49 kilometres (km) from Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar and close to the nearest national search and rescue post.
Debris was located Sunday morning during a coordinated ground and air search operation involving drones and Indonesian air force helicopters.
A drone deployed at 6.15 am local time helped guide teams to the area before helicopter sweeps were conducted over steep terrain.
At 7.46 am, rescuers visually identified a window fragment, marking the suspected crash site, officials said.
Three minutes later, larger debris believed to include sections of the fuselage and tail was spotted nearby, confirming the aircraft's location.
Lukman stressed authorities are not yet able to determine what caused the accident and urged patience during the investigation.
All investigative authority rests with the National Transportation Safety Committee, which will release official findings in line with regulations, the ministry said.
There were 10 people aboard the aircraft, including seven crew members and three passengers, according to the civil aviation directorate.
The crew included the captain, first officer, flight operations officer, two engineers, and two flight attendants, officials said.
The Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Ministry confirmed that the three passengers travelling on official duties were Ferry Irawan, Deden Mulyana, and Yoga Naufal, who worked in vessel analysis, state asset management, and aerial photography.
Evacuation efforts are ongoing, led by the national search agency with military, police, and community support from a command post 4.6 km away.
Preliminary reports showed visibility of about eight km with partly cloudy conditions, while updated weather data are being coordinated with the meteorology agency.
On the third day of the search, rescuers recovered the body of a woman from a ravine 50 metres below the summit, a day after finding a male victim. -- Bernama-ANTARA
