Indonesia steps up dawn search for missing ATR plane

hartono · Jan 18, 2026

A briefing to prepare the search operation for the ATR 42-500 on the Yogyakarta–Makassar route in Pangkep, South Sulawesi, on Saturday night, Jan. 17, 2026. /ANTARA/HO-Humas Pemkot Makassar.

Makassar, S Sulawesi (ANTARA) - A large joint rescue team will resume pre-dawn searches on Sunday for an ATR 42-500 aircraft missing on a Yogyakarta-Makassar route, authorities said, intensifying efforts amid difficult terrain in South Sulawesi.

The combined SAR operation involves Basarnas, disaster agencies, the military, police, marine police, the Red Cross, student mountaineers and hundreds of volunteers from various organisations.

During a late-night briefing on Saturday, the Pangkep military commander said the integrated operation would begin at 4:00 a.m. local time under a unified command structure.

Search teams will operate under a sector-based system tailored to terrain conditions, with clear task assignments to improve coordination and safety, officials said.

The briefing reaffirmed task divisions and search sectors, stressing discipline and adherence to a single chain of command in the expanded operation.

Three Makassar disaster agency personnel were assigned to data and information units to support reporting and integration of findings, authorities said.

Seven additional personnel trained in vertical rescue were appointed to lead several field teams as the number of rescuers and volunteers continues to grow.

Makassar’s disaster agency pledged continued support for the search, stressing professionalism, coordination and responder safety under the integrated command system.

Team commander Rahmat said all personnel were ready to deploy and would follow operational orders strictly in the field.

“We are ready to move under command instructions, focusing on data, information and leading search teams according to our expertise,” he said.

The ATR 42-500 aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, lost contact near Maros District, South Sulawesi, on Saturday, officials said.

The turboprop plane was believed to have lost contact at about 1:17 p.m. local time during the flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar.

Indonesia’s transport safety committee (KNKT) has begun collecting data related to the incident in the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park area.

Committee chief Soerjanto Tjahjono said investigators could not yet determine the cause, citing difficulties after the aircraft’s emergency locator transmitter was suspected to be inactive.

He said current efforts remain focused on locating the wreckage and gathering information on possible victims.

The air force deployed an H225M Caracal helicopter for search-and-rescue operations in the rugged area.

Air force spokesman I Nyoman Suadnyana said the last known coordinates were 04°57’08” south latitude and 119°42’54” east longitude.

The helicopter, piloted by Captain Rahman, departed Sultan Hasanuddin air base toward the Maros search sector.

The air force also deployed 82 personnel from rapid response and air defence units, along with a mobile command vehicle, to reinforce the joint ground operation.