Seven ATR Aircraft Victims' Bags Packaged and Evacuated to DVI
MAKASSAR - The Joint SAR team in the Search and Rescue (SAR) operation of the ATR 42-500 PK-THT aircraft accident managed to evacuate seven bags of victims from the Bulusaraung mountain area, South Sulawesi.
"Alhamdulillah, the weather today makes it possible to carry out evacuation through air routes. This is also supported by the capabilities of the aircraft used as well as the expertise and professionalism of all aircraft crews involved in the operation," said Head of Basarnas, Major General TNI Mohammad Syafii, as reported by ANTARA, Friday, January 23.
The seven bags of the victim were brought by air to Hasanuddin Air Base, then taken by land using seven ambulances to the Biddokes DVI Post of the South Sulawesi Police, on the Kumala Makassar road for identification by the joint DVI team.
"Six bags of bodies, and one bag of body parts," he said.
He explained that today the air SRU managed to carry out the evacuation of seven packages from the operation site, with strict coordination between elements and direct supervision from the leadership to ensure that all stages are safe and under control.
During the air operation, the Commander of the Operational Command (Pangkoops) of the II AU and the Head of Basarnas were in the TNI AU Caracal helicopter to directly monitor the evacuation. These seven packages were flown to Hasanuddin Air Base.
Meanwhile, the South Sulawesi Police Chief was also on board the Bell 429 helicopter to carry out monitoring, and for additional support was provided through the deployment of the Basarnas Dauphin HR 3601 helicopter.
Mohammad Syafii detailed that the Caracal helicopter of the Indonesian Air Force carried out three sorties, with the details of the first sortie picking up two packages, the second sortie picking up two packages, and the third sortie picking up one package from the evacuation location.
In addition, the Basarnas Dauphin HR 3601 helicopter carried out two flight sorties, in which the first sortie managed to pick up one package, and the second sortie picked up one package again, so that the total air evacuation on this day reached seven packages.
With the handover of seven packages plus four packages previously, to the DVI team, the number is 11 packages, 10 body bags and one package of body part bags (body parts) are put together. There are three victims who have been identified, and there are still seven other victims who have not been identified.
The doomed plane carrying 10 people, seven crew members and three passengers crashed in the Bulusaraung mountain region on Saturday, January 17, 2026.