**An Indonesia Air Transport passenger aircraft carrying 11 people has been confirmed missing after losing contact while preparing to land in the city of Makassar.**
Indonesia’s Ministry of Transportation spokesperson Endah Purnama Sari said the ATR 42-500 aircraft, registration number PK-THT, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, departed from Yogyakarta bound for Makassar before suddenly disappearing from radar screens. The aircraft was last detected in the Leang-Leang area of Maros Regency, a mountainous region in South Sulawesi Province.
Search and rescue teams, supported by helicopters, drones, and multiple ground units from the air force, have been deployed to locate the missing aircraft.
The ATR 42-500 lost contact with air traffic control. (Photo: Indonesia Air Transport)
Several mountain climbers on Mount Bulusaraung reported finding scattered debris, a logo resembling that of Indonesia Air Transport, and small fires still smoldering at the site.
“Information about the sighting of unidentified objects has been reported to authorities and is being verified by rescue teams as they attempt to access the area,” said Major General Bangun Nawoko.
At present, rescue teams are focusing their search on the mountainous area where the aircraft is believed to have deviated from its approach path to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport.
Director General of Civil Aviation of Indonesia, Lukman Laisa, added that the aircraft had received landing instructions from Makassar air traffic control shortly before it went missing.
“The aircraft was not on the correct flight path, so air traffic control instructed the pilot to adjust position. The controller then guided the aircraft to return to the runway for landing in accordance with regulations,” Laisa said.
According to Indonesian officials, the missing aircraft had been chartered under a long-term contract by the Maritime and Fisheries Monitoring Agency.
