“Based on monitoring data and airworthiness inspection results, the ATR 42-500 aircraft, registered as PK-THT, was declared to have met airworthiness requirements,” said the ministry’s Director General of Air Transportation, Lukman F. Laisa, on Monday.
The conclusion was supported by inspection records, including the most recent ramp check conducted on November 19, 2025, at Sam Ratulangi Airport in Manado by an airworthiness inspector from the Region VIII Airport Authority Office.
This was followed by a Certificate of Airworthiness (CoA) renewal inspection carried out on September 3, 2025.
The aircraft also underwent a final inspection by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) in accordance with the Calendar Month 4.5 MO maintenance program.
The inspection was completed on December 25, 2025, with the aircraft recording a total flight time of 24,959.62 hours.
“This data shows that the aircraft underwent routine inspections and periodic airworthiness monitoring in accordance with applicable regulations,” Lukman said.
The ATR 42-500 aircraft, which was previously reported missing, was found at the Bulusaraung hilltop in Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi, during a search operation conducted by the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) on Sunday (January 18).
Basarnas Deputy for Operations and Preparedness Edy Prakoso said the fuselage was discovered by a ground SAR team after reports of debris were received from an aerial search team.
According to Prakoso, the Makassar Search and Rescue Office received initial indications of the aircraft’s location at around 7:17 a.m., when an air patrol aircraft spotted white debris near Bulusaraung Hill. The finding was later confirmed by a SAR helicopter.
At 8:02 a.m., the ground team located large pieces of aircraft debris on the northern side of the hilltop.
At approximately 8:09 a.m., the aircraft’s fuselage was found for further identification.
Prakoso added that the evacuation process is being conducted with consideration of weather conditions, particularly strong winds and fog, while helicopters continue searching for a safe landing or drop-off point near the fuselage.
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Translator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta Sulistiyandari
Editor: M Razi Rahman
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