Indonesia Air Transport Surveillance Plane PK-THT Crashes in South Sulawesi, All 11 On Board Feared Dead
Indonesian fisheries surveillance flight PK-THT has crashed in mountainous terrain in South Sulawesi after vanishing from radar during a domestic flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar, with all on board feared dead as large-scale search and recovery efforts continue. Indonesian authorities say wreckage from the ATR 42-500 turboprop, operated by Indonesia Air Transport on behalf of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, was found scattered across a remote peak in Maros Regency.
Indonesian authorities have launched a major search and recovery operation after an Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500, registered PK-THT, disappeared from radar on Saturday while approaching Makassar in South Sulawesi with 11 people on board. The aircraft was operating a government fisheries surveillance mission between Yogyakarta and Makassar when contact was lost in poor weather over rugged mountain terrain.
Officials from Indonesia’s National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) report that the turboprop made its last radio contact at around 1:15–1:17pm local time, shortly after being cleared to approach Runway 21 at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport. Air traffic controllers then lost both radar and voice communication, triggering an immediate alert and the deployment of ground and aerial search teams to the Bantimurung and Leang-Leang mountain area in Maros Regency, north-east of Makassar.
Wreckage Located In Remote Mountains
After searching through the night and resuming operations before dawn, joint SAR teams involving the military, police and volunteers reported the first visual signs of debris on steep slopes in the Maros highlands. By mid-morning, rescuers confirmed they had located major sections of the fuselage and a wide debris field on a remote mountain peak, accessible only on foot and by helicopter.
Basarnas officials and local commanders say at least one body has been recovered from a ravine below the main wreckage site, and that the condition of the aircraft remains indicates a high‑impact crash with little chance of survivors. Recovery teams are working in hazardous conditions, hampered by fog, sheer cliffs and dense forest, and say it could take days to retrieve all victims and secure the flight’s black boxes.
Victims And Mission Details
Authorities state that 10 to 11 people were on board, including the flight crew and officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries travelling on an aerial monitoring mission over Indonesian waters. Local media report that three ministry personnel were among those on the flight, which had been converted from a standard passenger layout into an airborne surveillance platform in 2025.
Indonesia Air Transport, which operated the aircraft under a government contract, has not yet released a full passenger and crew manifest pending notification of families. The ATR 42-500 involved first entered service in 2001 and was transferred into fisheries surveillance duty in 2025, according to independent aviation records.
Investigation And Safety Concerns
Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation has confirmed that a formal investigation is under way to determine why the aircraft went silent mid‑air so close to its destination. Investigators will examine air traffic control data, weather conditions, maintenance history and, once recovered, flight data and cockpit voice recorders from the wreckage site.
The crash adds to Indonesia’s troubled aviation safety record, with the country’s geography, ageing fleets and challenging weather repeatedly highlighted as risk factors in past accidents. Officials stress that all available resources remain focused on locating every victim and securing key evidence, while counselling and support are being offered to grieving families in Makassar and Yogyakarta.
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