DVI Takes 8 DNA Samples from Families of ATR Plane Crash Victims 

MAKASSAR - The South Sulawesi Regional Police (Sulsel) Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team took eight DNA samples to the families of the victims of the ATR 4-500 plane crash on Mount Bulusaraung, Pangkajene Kepulauan Regency (Pangkep), Sulsel.

"The team has examined the ante mortem of the victim's family. There are eight people DNA (taken) and other statements. For the other two (victims' families), not yet," said Head of Public Relations of the South Sulawesi Police, Kombes Didik Supranoto, as reported by ANTARA.

He explained that after collecting information and data from the ante mortem and post mortem from the family, the next step is to match it with the victim if the joint SAR team is found, including the victim's belongings.

"From the initial data ante mortem and post mortem, it will be matched, whether it is in accordance with the airline company. We are still waiting for the delivery of the victim's body or other findings," said Didik at a press conference.

To facilitate the identification process, the DVI team in cooperation with other Polda Biddokes picked up the ball to the place where the victim's family resided to facilitate the collection of data and DNA samples.

"There are four families of victims who came to DVIdan four families who were visited by the team at their respective residences. This victim data will be conveyed after being identified," he said.

Regarding the two bodies of the victims found by the search team in the SAR operation, it is suspected that they are the crew of the ATR aircraft.

"However, we must not convey who (the identity) has been (found) and who has not, so that there are no mistakes," said Didik.

Meanwhile, the Head of the DVI Section at the National Police Headquarters, AKBP Wahyuhidayati, said that two victims had been found. However, it has not been accepted to date for examination.

"After there is a body, post mortem can be done. So for the body, sample collection will be carried out at the body examination. We never took samples at the crime scene. So that, later the number will be well recorded, all the administration," said Wahyuhidayati.

So far, no bodies have arrived at the Biddokes DVI Post of the South Sulawesi Police. However, his party did not stay silent and moved to collect data ante mortem.

"It turns out that these families are not in South Sulawesi. Some are in Central Java, some in West Java, some in Bekasi. We are coordinating with the local Biddokes Polda to find and visit the families," he said.

After receiving news of the accident, it turned out that several families had come to the Biddokes at the other Polda to take DNA samples, even facilitated by the airline to come to South Sulawesi.

"That's why we wait. While we also ask for the contact numbers of the families if we need additional data, we can still communicate," he said.

On the third day of the SAR operation, the joint SAR team again found one victim of the female gender in the ravine of Mount Bulusaraung at a depth of 50 meters from the peak. A day before, the victim found the body of a male victim on the slope of the ravine.

Previously, the ATR 42-500 aircraft belonging to Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) was declared missing in the Bulusaraung mountain area of the border area of Maros-Pangkep Regency, while preparing to land at the Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport on Saturday (17/1/2026) afternoon.

The plane was carrying 10 people, seven crew members and three POB (Persons on Board) passengers. All three are known to be employees of the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) on behalf of Ferry Irawan, Deden Mulyana and Yoga Naufal.

Meanwhile, the crew of the plane was seven people, namely the pilot Captain Andi Dahananto, co-pilot Muhammad Farhan Gunawan, the plane crew, namely Hariadi, Restu Adi, Dwi Murdiono, Florencia Lolita, and Esther Aprilita.