January 20, 2026 | 08:01 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - A number of personal items belonging to victims of the ATR 42-500 plane crash were recovered by a joint search and rescue (SAR) team while searching the scene on Mount Bulusaraung, Pangkajene Regency, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
"The team found various items suspected to belong to the victims, including personal documents, wallets, notebooks, identification cards (KTP), and electronic devices," said Muhammad Arif Anwar, Head of the Makassar Class A Basarnas Office, Monday, January 19, 2026.
Arif said the findings were obtained from an intensive ground team search of the extreme route between the summit and Post 9 of the climbing route. "In addition (to the victims' personal items), several aircraft parts, such as life jackets and fire signals, were also found around the aircraft's head," he said.
Arif stated that all items and aircraft parts recovered have been secured, recorded, and their coordinates marked according to procedures. These findings provide important clues for narrowing the search area and determining the next steps in the evacuation process, given the extremely steep and high-risk terrain.
"The search process is being carried out using special techniques, including refloating and opening routes, requiring time, precision, and strong coordination between various elements," said Arif.
On the third day of the search, the joint SAR team also found a female victim in a ravine on Mount Bulusaraung at a depth of 50 meters from the summit. The day before, a male victim was found.
The Indonesia Air Transport plane was carrying 10 people, consisting of seven crew members and three passengers. Two of the crew members were women. The passengers were employees of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries who were on maritime patrol.
Regarding the search for victims, the Head of the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), Mohammad Syafii, stated that weather and natural conditions remain major challenges in SAR operations. Thick fog, steep terrain, and rapid weather changes often hamper movement, both by air and land.
"Despite facing significant challenges, the joint SAR team continues to work optimally, prioritizing personnel safety. This operation continues professionally and meticulously until the entire search and evacuation process is completed," said Syafii.
Basarnas stated that every development in the SAR operation will be officially communicated to the public. The public is urged not to speculate and to entrust the search process entirely to the joint SAR team.
Read: Ministry of Transportation Declares ATR 42-500 Airworthy
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