Basarnas Deputy for Operations and Preparedness Edy Prakoso said the aircraft’s fuselage was located by a ground search team after earlier reports of debris spotted by an aerial patrol during a sweep of the area.
Initial indications of the aircraft’s location were detected at about 7:17 a.m. local time, when an air patrol reported white debris around the Bulusaraung hill area, later reconfirmed by a SAR helicopter, Edy said.
At 8:02 a.m., ground teams found large fragments of the aircraft on the northern slope near the summit, and at about 8:09 a.m. the main fuselage was located for further identification, he added.
Edy said evacuation efforts remain dependent on weather conditions, citing strong winds and fog, as helicopters search for a safe landing point to deploy rescue teams near the wreckage.
On Saturday (January 17), the ministry’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation received an initial report regarding the loss of contact with the ATR 42-500 aircraft, registered PK-THT, operated by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) under Air Operator Certificate (AOC) 034.
The aircraft, manufactured in 2000 with serial number 611, was en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar, with Captain Andy Dahananto serving as pilot in command.
The aircraft carried 11 people, comprising 8 flight crew members and 3 passengers. The flight made last contact at 1:17 p.m. local time.
Meanwhile, Indonesia’s fisheries ministry said three employees were aboard an ATR 42-500 aircraft that lost contact over South Sulawesi on Saturday during a surveillance mission.
Those onboard were Ferry Irawan, Deden Mulyana and Yoga Naufal, a patrol vessel analyst, state asset manager and aerial photography operator.
Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono said the IAT-operated flight was conducting aerial monitoring of Indonesia’s fisheries management areas as part of routine maritime surveillance.
The ministry routinely conducts air surveillance nationwide and works with Indonesia Air Transport as the aircraft operator. Such missions span border regions and waters across archipelago, from Sabang to Merauke, to deter illegal activity.
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Translator: M.Riezko BEP, Rahmad Nasution
Editor: Primayanti
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