An explosion was heard before a plane lost communication with air traffic control and disappeared. The aircraft vanished in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, en route to Makassar, prompting a search for the missing ATR 42-500 amid concerns of a possible crash. Departing from Yogyakarta, the plane lost contact 12 miles into its journey.
The missing Indonesia Air Transport plane carried three passengers and eight crew members before disappearing from radar. Emergency services have mobilized to the suspected crash site in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, where a joint search and rescue team is scouring the area for any signs of wreckage. Reports of debris in the mountainous region have heightened fears of a crash.
Commander Maj Gen Bangun Nawoko expressed confidence that the plane likely went down, citing reports of an explosion preceding the disappearance. The search operation is concentrating on identified “hotspots” within dense forest areas where the aircraft may have landed.
Director General of Air Transport, Lukman Laisa, revealed that the plane deviated from its designated path, prompting air traffic control to issue corrective instructions before losing contact with the crew. The aircraft was reportedly flying at a low altitude over the sea when the last signal was received northeast of Yogyakarta airport.
ATR, the aircraft manufacturer, extended condolences to those affected by the incident in Indonesia involving the ATR 42-500, pledging full cooperation with the ongoing investigation by Indonesian authorities and the operator.