Indonesia Air Transport ATR 42-500 wreckage found

Search and rescue teams have located the presumed crash site of an Indonesian Air Transport ATR 42-500, following the loss of radar and radio contact with the aircraft on approach to Makassar, Indonesia, the previous day.

The discovery was confirmed on Sunday, 18 January, after a prolonged aerial and ground search in the mountainous terrain of Mount Bulusaraung. Muhammad Arif Anwar, head of Makassar’s search and rescue office, stated that a rescue team aboard an Indonesian Air Force helicopter initially spotted what appeared to be a small aircraft window in a densely forested area. Ground teams were subsequently deployed and located additional aircraft debris, significantly narrowing the search area.

Anwar further confirmed that the body of a male victim was recovered at approximately 14:20 local time, having been found in a ravine around 200 metres deep, close to identified wreckage. Recovery operations remain ongoing, with terrain and access continuing to challenge responders.

What could have caused this crash?

At this early stage, the exact cause of the accident remains unknown, and authorities have not yet released preliminary findings. However, several key factors are expected to form part of the investigation.

Weather conditions at Makassar Airport at the time were reported as generally favourable, with good visibility and no significant meteorological phenomena typically associated with severe flight hazards. While localised conditions in mountainous terrain can differ markedly from airport weather reports, there is currently no indication of extreme weather at the time of the accident.

Air traffic control data indicate that the aircraft had deviated from its assigned approach path to runway 21 before the loss of contact. This raises the possibility of navigation error, flight crew disorientation, or a technical issue affecting aircraft guidance systems.

The ATR 42-500 is equipped with a Ground Proximity Warning System (GPWS), designed to alert the flight crew to rising terrain through visual and audible warnings in the flight deck. Whether such warnings were generated, and how the crew responded, will be a critical focus of the formal investigation.

Indonesian aviation safety record

Indonesia has faced persistent aviation safety challenges over recent decades, influenced by its complex geography, high volume of domestic air traffic, rapid airline expansion, and operational demands in remote and mountainous regions.

High-profile accidents include Lion Air Flight 610, which crashed into the Java Sea in 2018, killing all 189 people onboard, and Sriwijaya Air Flight 182, which went down shortly after departing Jakarta in 2021 with 62 fatalities. The country has also experienced multiple turboprop accidents in terrain-challenged regions, often linked to controlled flight into terrain, weather variability, or procedural deviations, continuing to raise concerns around operational risk within the aviation sector.

All at AirlineRatings offer our condolences to all those involved and affected. We will continue to monitor the developing story and bring you any significant updates

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