January 19, 2026 | 10:38 am
TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team has resumed the evacuation process for victims and debris from the ATR 42-500 aircraft that lost contact in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, on Friday, January 17, 2026. Abdul Rajab, Head of the Bantimurung Bulusaraung National Park, stated that the joint team would focus on searching for the plane's black box.
"(The search) for the black box is around the cliffs of the second peak of Mount Bulusaraung," Abdul said when contacted on Monday, January 19, 2026.
The black box is a device that records cockpit conversations and technical data during the flight. In addition to searching for the black box, Abdul explained that the joint team is also still focused on recovering the bodies of the victims. So far, the joint team has found one unidentified body on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
"As of this morning, only one body has been recovered," he said.
He stated that 37 personnel from the National Search and Rescue Agency, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the Indonesian National Police (Polri), and the Bantimurung National Park would evacuate and search for victims of the ATR 42-500 aircraft.
Abdul stated that the rescue effort for one body was planned to use a helicopter. "Or vertical rescue, rappelling from the peak of Mount 2 Bulusaraung using ropes because the height is approximately 200 meters to the cliff," he said.
Muhammad Arif Anwar, Head of the Makassar Class A Search and Rescue Office and Search Mission Coordinator (SMC), stated that the victim was found in a ravine approximately 200 meters deep.
"At 2:20 PM WITA (Central Indonesian Time), one male victim was found at coordinates 04°54'44'' South Latitude and 119°44'48'' East Longitude, near aircraft debris," Arif said in an official statement on Sunday, January 18, 2026.
According to Arif, the SAR team evacuated the victim via the climbing route. The extreme terrain and poor weather presented major challenges in the rescue operation. Since morning, heavy rain and thick fog had enveloped the summit area, with visibility limited to around five meters.
In addition to the victim, the SAR team also recovered several aircraft parts. Search and Rescue Unit (SRU) 3 reported finding debris in the form of the aircraft frame and seats, and identified the location of the aircraft engine based on visual observations on the ground.
During the operation, several SRUs moved according to predetermined sectors. SRU 1 descended westward using ropes, while SRU 3 remained at the summit to conduct further searches. Meanwhile, SRU 4, which had approached the mission point, failed to find safe access and was recalled to the command post due to safety concerns.
The ATR aircraft that lost contact was manned by a crew of seven. They were Andy Dahananto, captain and pilot; Farhan Gunawan, co-pilot; Hariadi, flight operations officer; and two aircraft technicians, Restu Adi P and Dwi Murdiono. Cabin services were handled by two cabin crew members, Florencia Lolita and Esther Aprilita.
The aircraft also carried three passengers. All passengers were on-duty employees of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries: Ferry Irawan, Surveillance Vessel Analyst; Deden Mulyana, State Asset Manager; and Yoga Noval, Aerial Photography Operator.
Dani Aswara contributed for this article.
Read: Facts About the ATR 42-500 Aircraft Crash
Click here to get the latest news updates from Tempo on Google News
Facts About the ATR 42-500 Aircraft Crash
1 jam lalu
The following are the facts about the ATR 42-500 aircraft that lost contact.
SAR Team Finds One Victim Near ATR Wreckage on Mount Bulusaraung
2 jam lalu
A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team found one victim during the search operation for an ATR 42-500 aircraft that had reportedly lost contact.
French Manufacturer Addresses ATR 42-500 Aircraft Crash in Indonesia
19 jam lalu
The Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500 was carrying seven crew members and three passengers when it lost contact Saturday afternoon.
Indonesia Air Transport Confirms 7 Crew Members Onboard ATR 42-500 Aircraft
20 jam lalu
A total of 10 passengers were on board the ATR plane. The wreckage has been found.
This Is the Condition of ATR 42-500 Aircraft Wreckage at Mount Bulusaraung Peak
22 jam lalu
One of the wreckage pieces of an ATR 42-500 aircraft was seen scattered on the slopes of Mount Bulusaraung Peak, South Sulawesi, Indonesia.
Fuselage, Tail of Missing ATR 42-500 Aircraft Found in Mount Bulusaraung
1 hari lalu
SAR team found the fuselage and tail of an ATR 42-500 aircraft belonging to Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) on the slopes of Mount Bulusaraung.
List of 10 Crew, Passengers on Missing ATR Aircraft in Indonesia
1 hari lalu
An ATR 42-500 aircraft belonging to Indonesia Air Transport, registered PK-THT, reportedly lost contact during its landing approach at Makassar.
KKP Says Missing ATR Plane Was Maritime Patrol Aircraft
1 hari lalu
The Ministry of Maritime Affairs confirms the ATR 42-500 aircraft missing in Maros, South Sulawesi, was a patrol aircraft carrying 10 people.
ATR Plane Missing Near Makassar with 10 on Board
1 hari lalu
An Indonesian Air Transport ATR 42-500 lost contact while approaching Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, Makassar, from Yogyakarta on January 17, 2026.
