In a statement on Sunday, he emphasized that as of Sunday, the search for the ATR 42-500 aircraft in Maros, South Sulawesi, continues intensively, carried out in close coordination with all relevant authorities.
According to the minister, since the report of the aircraft losing contact was received, the government has immediately deployed all available resources, involving the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the National Armed Forces (TNI), and other related agencies.
Currently, the joint search and rescue (SAR) team has found debris strongly suspected to be from the ATR 42-500 aircraft during the search operation in the Maros area.
"This debris finding marks significant progress in the search process, and all current findings are being thoroughly verified by the relevant authorities," he explained.
The aircraft debris was found on the border of Maros and Pangkajene Kepulauan districts in South Sulawesi.
At 7:46 a.m. local time, the team successfully made a visual identification of aircraft debris in the form of a window, the initial marker of the crash site.
Three minutes later, at 7:49 a.m., the team also located large fragments suspected to be from the fuselage and tail of the aircraft, which carried 10 people, including the crew.
Minister Purwagandhi emphasized that safety and the search remain the government's top priorities, highlighting that all involved parties continue to work around the clock to expand the search area and ensure that every piece of information is acted upon quickly and accurately.
The government has set up a crisis center at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar, South Sulawesi, as a center for information coordination.
It also ensured that all search and handling measures are taken in accordance with safety procedures and international standards.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Raka Adji
Editor: Azis Kurmala
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