Joint SAR Team Finds Location of ATR 42-500 Aircraft Crash in Pangkep, Condition Destroyed

MAKASSAR - In less than 24 hours, a joint SAR team managed to find the location of the ATR 42-500 plane crash in the Bulusaraung Mountain area, Tompobulu Village, Balocci District, Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi, Sunday, January 18.

This was conveyed by the Commander of the XIV Military Regional Command, Major General TNI Bangun Narwoko, at a press conference held at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, Sunday, January 18.

The joint SAR team managed to find the location of the ATR 42-500 plane crash. (Dispenad Doc)

The joint SAR team, which involved elements of the TNI AD together with the TNI AU, TNI AL, Polri, Basarnas, and other related institutions, moved quickly along the extreme mountainous terrain with challenging natural conditions, as part of humanitarian efforts to ensure that the location of the aircraft can be immediately identified.

Significant results began to be obtained at 07.17 WITA with the discovery of the initial debris of the aircraft. Subsequently, at 08.02 WITA, the ground team confirmed the presence of the main part of the aircraft at the scene.

The joint SAR team managed to find the location of the ATR 42-500 plane crash. (Dispenad Doc)

The findings include two large parts of the aircraft, namely the fuselage and the tail of the aircraft, including a number of aircraft windows, all of which have recorded their coordinates. The joint SAR team has also evacuated one of the victims of the aircraft accident.

Currently, the joint SAR team is still carrying out activities at the discovery location to support the next stages of search and rescue operations, while still prioritizing the safety factor of personnel in the field.

The joint SAR team managed to find the location of the ATR 42-500 plane crash. (Dispenad Doc)

As previously reported, the ATR 42-500 aircraft lost contact on Saturday, January 17. The plane took off from Adisutjipto Airport, Yogyakarta at 08.00 WIB with destination Makassar. Around 12.23 WITA, the plane made contact with ATC Makassar but after that the plane lost contact in the Maros Regency area.

The ATR 42-500 aircraft is being used by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries for a mission to monitor maritime security and illegal activities in Indonesia's border areas from Sabang to Merauke.

The ATR 42-500 aircraft carried 10 people, namely the pilot and co-pilot, 2 cabin crew, 3 staff and engineers, and 3 passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.