ATR 42 Wreckage Found on Mount Bulusaraung; One Body Recovered

Indonesian authorities have located the wreckage of an ATR 42-500 turboprop aircraft on the fog-shrouded slopes of Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi, with one victim recovered and search efforts ongoing for the remaining occupants amid challenging mountainous terrain.

The Indonesia Air Transport aircraft vanished from radar on January 17 while on a charter flight from Yogyakarta to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport near Makassar, carrying eight crew members and three passengers on a maritime surveillance mission for the country’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. Contact was lost with air traffic control shortly before the aircraft’s scheduled approach, prompting a widespread search and rescue operation. :contentReference[oaicite:0]{index=0}

Early on the morning of January 18, helicopter crews and ground teams spotted scattered wreckage on Mount Bulusaraung, confirming the aircraft had impacted the mountain’s slope. Debris consistent with the ATR 42-500’s fuselage, tail and other structural components has been documented across steep cliffs and ravines, with rescue teams working in dense fog and rugged terrain to reach the site. :contentReference[oaicite:1]{index=1}

Search and Rescue (SAR) officials subsequently recovered the body of one victim from a ravine about 200 meters deep, surrounded by wreckage. The evacuation of the remains is underway, with teams using climbing routes under adverse weather conditions. Thick fog and heavy rain have continued to restrict visibility and complicate ground access for rescue personnel. :contentReference[oaicite:2]{index=2}

Indonesian National SAR Agency Basarnas has deployed a large contingent of military, police, air force helicopters and ground units as part of the coordinated effort, with more than 400 personnel involved. Authorities are preparing dual evacuation strategies — either by air using helicopter hoist operations or by land — depending on how conditions at the crash site evolve. :contentReference[oaicite:3]{index=3}

The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has classified the accident as a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT) incident, meaning the aircraft likely collided with the mountain slope while still under pilot control. CFIT classifications reflect scenarios where navigational or situational awareness challenges lead to unintentional impact with terrain, and the investigation will continue to examine all possible causal factors. :contentReference[oaicite:4]{index=4}

Aviation regulators and safety investigators are coordinating efforts to recover flight recorders and secured evidence from the site, although retrieval operations remain constrained by unstable weather and steep topography. The Ministry of Transportation has also confirmed that all crew members were medically fit at the time of departure, and preliminary airworthiness data indicate the ATR 42-500 was serviceable before the flight. :contentReference[oaicite:5]{index=5}

Rescue teams and local authorities remain committed to locating the remaining occupants and recovering their remains, with priority emphasised on personnel safety amid the difficult mountain conditions. The full toll of the accident has yet to be confirmed as operations proceed, and the KNKT is expected to issue interim findings as more information becomes available. :contentReference[oaicite:6]{index=6}