SAR Teams Move Into Mount Bulusaraung to Recover Suspected ATR Aircraft Wreckage

Maros: A joint search and rescue (SAR) team has been deployed to Mount Bulusaraung, on the border of Maros and Pangkep regencies in South Sulawesi, following the discovery of debris believed to be from an Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) ATR aircraft that lost contact in the area.

“There are around 400 to 500 personnel on standby to support the evacuation process, with additional teams being deployed to Bulusaraung,” said Andi Sultan, Head of Operations and Preparedness at the Makassar National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), at the Leang-Leang Command Post in Maros on Sunday, January 18, 2026, as quoted by Antara.

Ground teams have been dispatched to the site where the debris was found and are conducting detailed sweeps of the area, while also mapping potential evacuation routes amid difficult terrain.

According to Andi Sultan, the evacuation route selected is a hiking trail considered the safest option after thorough assessment. Although there are routes closer to the wreckage, they are significantly steeper and pose higher risks.

“There is actually a closer route, but the terrain is extremely steep and dangerous. For safety reasons, the team is using the established hiking route, which is more accessible,” he said.

The aircraft debris was located through combined ground and aerial search operations on Sunday morning. An advance team equipped with drones was deployed at 6:15 a.m. Central Indonesia Time (WITA), followed by an aerial search using a helicopter.

At 7:46 a.m. WITA, the aerial team identified a small piece of debris believed to be part of an aircraft window. Minutes later, at 7:49 a.m. WITA, ground teams reported the discovery of a larger section suspected to be part of the fuselage and tail, which were found separately.

Andi Sultan said the wreckage was located on the southern slope of Mount Bulusaraung, below the crash site. However, when viewed from the mountain peak, the fuselage appears to be positioned on the northern side. The location of the main wreckage is estimated to be about 1.5 kilometers from the initial search point. Efforts to reach the fuselage remain hampered by steep slopes and long access distances.

“Access to the fuselage is extremely challenging. The terrain is steep and the distance is considerable, so the safety of our personnel is our top priority before proceeding with evacuation,” he said.

Field data indicate that the first debris was found at coordinates 04°55'48" South Latitude and 119°44'52" East Longitude within the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park area. Subsequent findings included large fuselage sections, an open aircraft door, and the tail, located further downslope.

The ATR aircraft, carrying 11 people, was en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar when it lost contact at 1:17 p.m. WITA on Saturday, January 17, 2026. Those on board included eight crew members—Captain Andy Dahananto, Yudha Mahardika, Captain Sukardi, Hariadi, Franky D. Tanamal, Junaidi, Florencia Lolita, and Esther Aprilita—and three passengers identified as Deden, Ferry, and Yoga.

The ongoing SAR operation involves personnel from Basarnas, the Indonesian National Armed Forces (TNI), the National Police (Polri), AirNav Indonesia, Air Force Special Forces (Paskhas), the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD), and local community volunteers.