Rescue teams in Indonesia have located the wreckage of a missing aircraft that crashed in a remote, mountainous area with eleven people on board.
Discovery in Dense Forest
On Sunday, 18 January 2026, an air force helicopter crew spotted what appeared to be a small aircraft window on the forested slopes of Mount Bulusaraung. This initial sighting led ground teams to the main crash site, where larger sections of debris, including parts of the fuselage and tail, were found scattered across a steep northern slope.
Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the discovery. He stated that finding the aircraft's primary sections was a pivotal moment, significantly narrowing the search zone. "Our joint search and rescue teams are now focusing on searching for the victims, especially those who might still be alive," Anwar told a press conference.
Flight Details and Challenging Conditions
The aircraft, an ATR 42-500 turboprop operated by Indonesia Air Transport, vanished from radar on Saturday, 17 January. It was on a scheduled flight from Yogyakarta on Java to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi province. Air traffic control had instructed the pilot to correct the plane's approach alignment shortly before it disappeared.
The final radar contact placed the plane in the Leang-Leang area of Maros at 01:17 p.m. on Saturday. It was carrying eight crew members and three passengers from Indonesia's Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, who were on an airborne maritime surveillance mission.
Rescue efforts have been severely hampered by the difficult terrain and adverse weather. Major General Bangun Nawoko, the Hasanuddin military commander for South Sulawesi, reported that strong winds, heavy fog, and steep, rugged ground have slowed the operation. Photos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency show rescuers trekking along a narrow, fog-shrouded mountain ridge to reach the debris.
Indonesia's Transport Safety Record
This latest incident highlights ongoing concerns about transportation safety in the vast Indonesian archipelago. The nation, which comprises over 17,000 islands, relies heavily on air and sea links. In recent years, it has experienced a number of serious accidents across various modes of transport, including plane crashes, bus collisions, and ferry sinkings.
As of Sunday, ground and air teams were continuing their arduous push towards the main wreckage site, hoping to locate any survivors and recover the victims of this tragic crash.
