A domestic flight in Indonesia carrying 11 people lost contact and went missing over South Sulawesi, sparking a large search and rescue effort. Authorities are continuing operations as more details emerge.
A plane carrying 11 people went missing in Indonesia on Saturday after losing contact during a domestic flight, according to official statements from Indonesian authorities. The aircraft, an ATR 42-500 operated by Indonesia Air Transport, disappeared from radar while flying over South Sulawesi province, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation.
The missing plane was traveling from Yogyakarta to Makassar, the provincial capital of South Sulawesi, when communication was unexpectedly lost. Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation confirmed that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation received an initial alert regarding the loss of contact with the aircraft, registered as PK-THT, shortly after it vanished from tracking systems.
In response, the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) swiftly mobilized emergency teams. A search post was established near the Maros district, close to the aircraft’s last known position. Officials stated that coordination is ongoing between aviation authorities, rescue personnel, and local agencies to ensure a rapid and organized response.
Preliminary information suggested that weather conditions at the time were relatively stable. Visibility in the area was reported to be nearly eight kilometers, with partly cloudy skies. Despite these early observations, officials emphasized that a detailed weather analysis is still underway. The Ministry of Transportation is working closely with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG) to assess whether environmental factors may have played a role in the aircraft’s disappearance.
Basarnas later confirmed that the aircraft was carrying a total of 11 people, including eight crew members and three passengers. According to Edy Prakoso, Director of Operations at Basarnas, the flight made its final contact at approximately 1:17 p.m. local time. The plane’s last recorded coordinates were detected near the Leang-Leang area in Maros, a region known for its rugged landscape.
Search and rescue teams were dispatched immediately to the area identified by the last signal. Authorities confirmed that operations will continue around the clock, with regular updates to be shared as more verified information becomes available. Indonesia’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation also stated that it remains in close coordination with all relevant agencies to support the ongoing search efforts.
