Indonesian plane with 11 people on board goes missing, search underway
The plane, turboprop ATR 42-500, was being operated by the Indonesia Air Transport and it had departed from Yogyakarta for the capital city of South Sulawesi.
Multiple search and rescue teams, supported by air force helicopters, drones and ground units have been deployed, an Indonesian spokesperson said in a statement. (Photo: Representational/ Wikimedia Commons)
A regional passenger aircraft, carrying 11 people, lost contact with ground control on Saturday while it approached a mountainous region between Indonesia’s main island of Java and Sulawesi island, officials said. A search and rescue operation has been launched by the authorities.
The plane, turboprop ATR 42-500, was being operated by the Indonesia Air Transport and it had departed from Yogyakarta for the capital city of South Sulawesi when it disappeared from the radar, Indonesia’s transport ministry’s spokesperson Endah Purnama Sari said, AP reported.
The last tracked location of the plane was Leang-Leang area of Maros, a mountainous district of South Sulawesi province at 1:17pm (local time). The spokesperson further stated that multiple search and rescue teams have been deployed which is being supported by air force helicopters, drones and ground units.
A report by AP stated that hikers on Mount Bulusaraung reported locating the alleged wreckage with the debris having the logo consistent with Indonesia Air Transport markings, and small fires burning at the scene.
According to Maj. Gen. Bangun Nawoko, the South Sulawesi’s Hasanuddin military commander, “The sightings were reported to authorities and are being verified by rescue teams attempting to reach the area.”
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Spokesperson Sari further said that the plane was instructed by the air traffic control to correct its approach alignment but it soon disappeared from the radar system after that. “After the last ATC instructions, radio contact was lost and controllers declared the emergency distress phase,” Sari said.
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Multiple search and rescue teams, supported by air force helicopters, drones and ground units have been deployed, an Indonesian spokesperson said in a statement. (Photo: Representational/ Wikimedia Commons) 
