KKP Confirms Three of Its Employees Were Passengers of the ATR 42-500 Aircraft that Disappeared in South Sulawesi

Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono. (Photo: Dok. Antara)

JAKARTA - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries (KKP) has confirmed that three of its employees were passengers on the ATR 42-500 aircraft with registration PK-THT that lost contact in the Maros Regency area, South Sulawesi (South Sulawesi).

The three of them are Ferry Irawan with the rank of I-level young stylist and ship inspector analyst position; Deden Mulyana with the rank of I-level young stylist with the position of state property manager; and Yoga Naufal with his position as an aerial photo operator.

"With this we express our concern. We are frankly sad and concerned and pray for the best for the passengers and crew of the plane," said Minister of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Sakti Wahyu Trenggono at a press conference in Jakarta, quoted by Antara, Saturday, January 17.

Based on the latest information from the Head of the Makassar National SAR Office, who was contacted by the Directorate General of Marine Resources and Fisheries Monitoring (PSDKP) Team on January 17, 2026 at 19.20 WIB, Trenggono said that the status of the aircraft, crew, and passengers was being searched or search and rescue by the Joint SAR Team.

He explained that the KKP employees on the aircraft operated by PT Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) were carrying out a mission to monitor marine and fisheries resources by air or air surveillance in the fisheries management area of the Republic of Indonesia.

Trenggono added that his ministry had always carried out air surveillance duties, working with IAT as an aircraft operator.

"So we always use it to operate throughout Indonesia from Sabang to Merauke, especially for surveillance in border areas. So our sea borders with the neighboring sea so we will always do that. but not limited, almost all WIP We do surveillance," he explained.

Furthermore, Trenggono emphasized that the KKP continues to coordinate with various parties to monitor the development of the search for the air surveillance aircraft.

"Regarding the search and the cause of the incident, we leave it all to Basarnas, KNKT, and the Ministry of Transportation," said Trenggono.

On the same occasion, the President Director of PT IAT Tri Adi Wibowo explained that the crew of the aircraft on board the aircraft numbered seven people, including Capt Andy Dahananto who served as the Director of Operations of PT IAT.

"We are concerned and we are waiting for the search process by the Basarnas Team. Our team has launched to Makassar to participate in the process," said Tri.

As previously reported, the Directorate General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation stated that the ATR 42-500 type aircraft belonging to IAT which lost contact in the Maros Regency area, South Sulawesi, was reported to carry 10 people.

The Director General of Air Transportation of the Ministry of Transportation, Lukman F. Laisa, in a statement in Jakarta, Saturday, said that the 10 people consisted of seven crew members and three passengers. However, Lukman did not explain in more detail the identity of the 10 people on the plane.

The Ministry of Transportation (Kemenhub) received a report of the loss of an ATR 42-500 aircraft with registration PK-THT on Saturday, January 17.

The ATR 42-500 aircraft, which was built in 2000 with the serial number 611, carried out a flight from Yogyakarta Adi Sucipto (JOG) to Makassar Sultan Hasanuddin (UPG), with Pilot in Command Capt. Andy Dahananto.

Currently, the plane is in the search phase. The search target is carried out in the Bantimurung limestone mountains, Leang-leang village, Marros Regency. The location is also a Basarnas Post.

The continued search is planned to be carried out by an Air Force helicopter flight with Basarnas scheduled at 16.25 WITA.

AirNav Indonesia is currently also preparing to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) related to search and rescue activities.