SAR Operation for ATR 42-500 Continues, Minister of Transportation Ensures Search to Continue

JAKARTA - The search for an ATR 42-500 aircraft that lost contact in the Maros area, South Sulawesi, continues. Until today, the government ensures that all rescue elements are fully and coordinated in the field.

Minister of Transportation Dudy Purwagandhi emphasized that the search was carried out intensively without interruption by involving various central and regional institutions.

"First of all, we convey our empathy and deep concern to the families of the crew and passengers of the ATR 42-500 aircraft. We ensure that we will provide the necessary assistance and information support," said Dudy in an official statement, January 18.

Since the report of missing contact was received, continued Dudy, the government has immediately deployed all available resources by involving the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) as the search and rescue coordinator, supported by the TNI, Polri, AirNav Indonesia, BMKG, local governments, and other related institutions.

Dudy said the joint SAR team coordinated by Basarnas had found a number of debris suspected to be from the plane.

The location of the discovery is on the border of Maros Regency and Pangkajene Islands (Pangkep), about 26 kilometers (Km) from Sultan Hasanuddin Airport and near the Basarnas post.

At 07.46 WITA, continued Dudy, the team identified debris in the form of a window, followed by the discovery of a fuselage and tail section at 07.49 WITA.

"The discovery of these debris is part of an important progress in the search process, and all current findings are being thoroughly verified by the competent authorities," said Dudy.

Dudy emphasized that at present, safety and search are the government's top priority. All related elements are currently working tirelessly to expand the search area and ensure that all information is followed up quickly and accurately.

"Technical information related to the debris findings, detailed locations, and the continued development of the search will be periodically and officially provided by the relevant authorities, especially Basarnas and the Directorate General of Air Transportation after going through the verification process," explained Dudy.

In addition, Dudy reminded the public to only follow official information so as not to be misled by rumors.

"The public can follow the development of information through official announcements or news delivered by the authorities. Currently, the Crisis Center has also been opened at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, Makassar as a center for coordinating information," he said.

Previously reported, the ATR plane was known to be boarded by 11 people with the Yogyakarta route to Makassar City was reported missing contact on Saturday (17/1/2026) at 13.17 WITA at the coordinate point 04°55'48" LS - 119°44'52" BT in the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park area, Maros-Pangkep Regency.

The personnel of the Joint SAR team were deployed to Mount Bulusaraung, the border area of Maros-Pangkejene Islands Regency (Pangkep), South Sulawesi, after confirming the discovery of the debris of the ATR 42-500 aircraft that had crashed in the local airspace.

"Here there are about 400-500 personnel ready to help in the evacuation process later, the rest are deployed to Bulusaraung," said Head of Operations and Standby Section of the Makassar Basarnas Office, Andi Sultan, as reported by ANTARA, Sunday, January 18.

The latest development, a joint SAR team has been sent to the location of the discovery of aircraft debris, including combing the area of the incident. In addition, the SAR team has mapped the evacuation route, given the condition of the terrain which is quite heavy.

According to him, the best option taken for the evacuation route after being considered is to take the climbing route to the location. Although there are other routes near the location, the terrain is quite difficult.

"Actually there is a path closer to the location, but the terrain is quite steep and risky. However, the team still uses the climbing route because the access is easy to reach," he said.