Rescue teams in Indonesia are facing a desperate search for eleven people after the wreckage of a missing surveillance plane was located in a remote mountainous region.
Wreckage Located in Challenging Terrain
The aircraft, an ATR 42 turboprop operated by Indonesia Air Transport, vanished from radar on Saturday, 17 January 2026. It was conducting a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar for fisheries monitoring operations. Debris from the plane was later spotted scattered across the steep slopes near Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi, approximately 1,500 kilometres northeast of the capital, Jakarta.
Authorities confirmed the aircraft was carrying three officials from Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry alongside eight crew members. As of Sunday, 18 January, none of the individuals on board have been accounted for, and their condition remains unknown.
Large-Scale Search Hampered by Conditions
A major search and rescue operation is underway, but teams are battling extremely difficult conditions. The mission is being severely impeded by strong winds, heavy fog, and the treacherous, steep terrain of the crash site. These factors have slowed progress and complicated efforts to reach the wreckage and locate any potential survivors.
The discovery of the debris field confirms the worst fears for the fate of the aircraft, which lost contact with air traffic control during its routine surveillance mission. The focus has now shifted to a painstaking ground search of the area.
Ongoing Investigation and Recovery
Indonesian authorities have mobilised significant resources for the recovery operation. The challenging environment means the process of retrieving victims and crucial evidence from the ATR 42 crash site will likely be protracted and hazardous.
While the cause of the accident is not yet known, the discovery of the wreckage marks a critical, albeit tragic, step in the investigation. The nation now awaits further updates as rescue workers persevere against the elements in South Sulawesi.
