JAKARTA - The Makassar National SAR Agency (Basarnas) team moved quickly to deploy a search team following the report of loss of contact with an ATR aircraft belonging to Indonesia Air Transport, Saturday, January 17, 2026.
The plane, which was carrying 11 people, consisting of 8 crew members and 3 passengers, was reported missing while undergoing a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar. Based on initial information, the plane lost communication at 13.17 WITA in the Maros Regency area, South Sulawesi.
Data from AirNav Indonesia states that the last position of the plane is estimated to be around the Leang-leang area, Maros Regency, with coordinates 04°57'08" South Latitude and 119°42'54" East Longitude.
Head of the Makassar Basarnas Operations Section, Andi Sultan, said his party immediately deployed personnel as soon as they received the report.
"The personnel are currently on their way to the alleged location. The information is in the Leang-leang area," said Andi Sultan.
In the initial phase, Basarnas Makassar deployed 25 personnel divided into three teams to conduct a search. In addition, the Makassar SAR Office (Kansar) deployed various supporting equipment, including one unit of personnel truck, one unit of rescue car, and one unit of drone to assist in aerial searches.
As the situation progresses, the number of SAR personnel deployed continues to increase. "So far, around 400 to 500 personnel have been deployed to support the search operation," he said.
He explained that the search was focused on four points that were suspected to be the last route or location of the plane. One of the search points is in the Usarawu mountain area, with a travel time of about three hours from the post.
Even though the search was carried out until the evening, Andi Sultan emphasized that the operation had not been stopped. "We first saw the weather conditions. We are still moving members towards the foot of Mount Usarawu. If the weather permits, the search will still be carried out," he said.
An ATR 400-type aircraft belonging to Indonesia Air Transport carrying 11 people has been reported missing in the Maros Regency area, South Sulawesi, Saturday, January 17, 2026, at around 13.17 WITA.
Deputy Operations and Preparedness of Basarnas Edy Prakoso said that the plane was reported missing during a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar City, South Sulawesi.
"The Makassar SAR Office immediately deployed a search team after receiving a report from AirNav Indonesia. The plane was carrying 11 people consisting of eight crew members and three passengers. The last contact with the plane was reported to have been cut off at 13.17 WITA," he said.
The eight flight crew consists of Captain Andy Dahananto as the pilot and First Officer Yudha Mahardika. In addition, there are six other crew members, namely Sukardi, Hariadi, Franky D. Tanamal, Junaidi, Florencia Lolita, and Esther Aprilita.
Meanwhile, the three passengers who were on board the plane were named Deden, Ferry, and Yoga. Until this news was released, the search and rescue operation was still ongoing, while Basarnas continued to try to determine the exact location point as well as the condition of the aircraft and all passengers on board. *
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