A passenger plane carrying 11 people has vanished over Indonesia after witnesses on the ground reported hearing a loud explosion, sparking a major search and rescue mission.
Flight Vanishes Minutes After Takeoff
The ATR 42-500 aircraft departed from Yogyakarta on the morning of 17 January 2026, bound for Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. However, contact with air traffic control was lost approximately 12 miles into its flight. The plane was reported to be carrying three passengers and eight crew members when it disappeared from radar systems.
Reports of Explosion and Immediate Response
Local residents reported hearing a significant explosion in the area around the time the aircraft lost contact. This account was confirmed by military officials coordinating the response. Commander of the XIV Hasanuddin Military Region, Major General Bangun Nawoko, stated to reporters in Makassar that authorities had received reports of an explosion and that it was "very likely that it (fell)".
Emergency services were immediately dispatched to the suspected crash site. A joint search and rescue team is currently focused on locating the wreckage in the Maros Regency area of South Sulawesi.
Ongoing Search for Survivors
The primary objective of the operation is to find the missing aircraft and any potential survivors. The terrain in the search area is challenging, but teams are working against the clock. The incident has drawn significant attention across Indonesia and from the global aviation community, given the sudden and unexplained nature of the disappearance preceded by reports of an explosion.
As of the latest updates, the fate of the 11 individuals on board remains unknown, and the search continues with urgency.
