Body Found Near ATR 42-500 Wreckage After Indonesia Air Transport Vanishes
Key Points
- 1One body was recovered from a 200-meter ravine near the ATR 42-500 wreckage on Mount Bulusaraung, South Sulawesi.
- 2The Indonesia Air Transport flight carried 11 people, including three Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry officials on a surveillance mission.
- 3Initial reports suggest the accident may have been a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), according to Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee.
- 4The search operation is severely hampered by heavy fog, strong winds, and the mountain's steep, rugged terrain.
Search and rescue teams in Indonesia have located the wreckage of an Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) ATR 42-500 turboprop. The discovery follows the aircraft vanishing from radar on Saturday with 11 people aboard. Rescuers also recovered the body of a man near the crash site on Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi.
Discovery and Recovery Efforts
The plane, registered as PK-THT, was on a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar. It lost contact with air traffic control shortly after being instructed to correct its approach alignment.
On Sunday, an air force helicopter spotted what appeared to be aircraft debris. Ground teams later found larger wreckage. This included parts of the fuselage, passenger seats, and the engine.
Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of Makassar’s Search and Rescue Office, confirmed the findings. He stated that the body of a man was retrieved from a deep ravine. The ravine was about 200 meters (656 feet) deep on the mountain slope.
- The recovered body has not yet been officially identified.
- The search for the remaining 10 people continues.
Challenging Rescue Conditions
The operation faces significant challenges due to the remote location. Strong winds, heavy fog, and steep, rugged terrain have slowed the search. Visibility at the summit was reportedly limited to about five meters.
More than 100 personnel, including elite army forces, were deployed. The difficult conditions forced the cancellation of a planned vertical descent.
Aircraft and Mission Details
The ATR 42-500 was carrying eight crew members and three passengers. The passengers were officials from the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry. The flight was chartered for an airborne maritime surveillance mission.
Initial findings suggest the accident may be a controlled flight into terrain (CFIT). This is when a fully functioning aircraft, under pilot control, unintentionally flies into the ground or an obstacle. The head of Indonesia's National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) mentioned this possibility.
Manufacturer ATR has stated it is prepared to support the Indonesian-led investigation. The Indonesian civil aviation regulator, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA), is coordinating the response.
Context of Indonesian Aviation Safety
Indonesia relies heavily on air transport to connect its over 17,000 islands. The country has a history of transportation accidents. This includes plane crashes and ferry sinkings.
Its aviation safety record has been a concern in the past. The United States FAA and the European Union once restricted Indonesian carriers. The FAA restored Indonesia's Category 1 safety rating in 2016. This signifies compliance with ICAO safety standards.
This latest accident highlights the persistent operational risks. These risks are common in archipelagic nations with challenging geography and weather. The investigation by the KNKT will be crucial. It will determine the exact cause and inform future safety measures. The focus remains on the search for the missing individuals.
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Ujjwal SukhwaniAviation News Editor & Industry Analyst delivering clear coverage for a worldwide audience.
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