Indonesian Rescuers Recover All 10 Bodies After Surveillance Plane Crash

A week-long search and rescue operation in Indonesia’s South Sulawesi Province has ended with rescuers recovering the bodies of all 10 people who were aboard a fishery surveillance plane that crashed into the rugged slopes of Mount Bulusaraung last weekend, authorities confirmed on Friday, 23 January 2026.

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The ATR 42-500 turboprop aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) and chartered by the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday, 17 January while on a routine surveillance mission from Yogyakarta to Makassar.

The plane was carrying seven crew members and three ministry personnel at the time of the accident.

The National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) said on Friday that the ninth and tenth bodies were located and evacuated from the crash site, marking the completion of recovery efforts after challenging conditions slowed early progress.

Officials described the operation as one of the most difficult due to steep terrain, dense vegetation, fog, and unpredictable weather at the crash site in the Bantimurung-Bulusaraung National Park area.

Basarnas official Andi Sultan, visibly emotional during a briefing, confirmed that the remains of the victims were being transported to the Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) center in Makassar for formal identification and forensic analysis.

Earlier in the week, rescue teams had recovered debris and some remains from the site located at a remote mountain slope, where scattered aircraft parts were found at various elevations.

The ATR 42-500 aircraft, registered PK-THT, was conducting an aerial surveillance mission for the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, a routine operation designed to monitor maritime activity across the vast archipelagic waters of Indonesia.

Flight data indicates the aircraft lost contact with air traffic controllers around 1:30 p.m. local time on Saturday, shortly before it was expected to land at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar.

Rescue operations began within hours, with joint teams including Basarnas, Indonesian National Police, military units, and local volunteers mobilised to locate the wreckage.

Search teams also located and retrieved the aircraft’s “black box”, comprising the cockpit voice recorder (CVR) and flight data recorder (FDR), earlier in the week.

The device has been handed over to the National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) in Jakarta to support the formal investigation into the crash’s cause.

Officials say the black box may provide insights into aircraft performance and environmental conditions leading up to the accident.

KNKT investigators will analyse the data alongside weather reports, maintenance records, and radar tracking information to piece together a comprehensive timeline of events. Initial findings have yet to be released by authorities.

Two of the recovered victims have already been formally identified: Cabin Crew Member Florencia Lolita Wibisono and civil servant Deden Maulana, both of whom were laid to rest in ceremonies with family and colleagues in attendance.

Indonesian officials have extended condolences to the families of all the victims and reiterated the country’s commitment to aviation safety.

President and transport authorities have called for enhanced training and stricter maintenance and monitoring regimes to prevent similar tragedies.