Sat Jan 17 14:39:33 UTC 2026: ### Passenger Plane Vanishes in Indonesia, Search and Rescue Underway
The Story:
A regional passenger aircraft, an ATR 42-500 operated by Indonesia Air Transport, disappeared from radar on Saturday, January 17, 2026, while flying between Yogyakarta and South Sulawesi in Indonesia. The aircraft, carrying 11 people, including 8 crew members and 3 passengers from the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry, lost contact with ground control while approaching a mountainous region. A large-scale search and rescue operation is currently in progress.
Key Points:
- The aircraft, an ATR 42-500, was operated by Indonesia Air Transport.
- The flight was en route from Yogyakarta to the capital city of South Sulawesi.
- The plane disappeared from radar around 1:17 p.m. near the Leang-Leang area of Maros, a mountainous district in South Sulawesi province.
- Hikers reported debris and small fires in the Mount Bulusaraung area, potentially linked to the missing plane.
- The aircraft lost radio contact shortly after receiving instructions from air traffic control to adjust its approach alignment.
- Weather conditions were reported as cloudy with 8-kilometre visibility.
- The search is complicated by steep terrain within Bulusaraung National Park.
Key Takeaways:
- The disappearance of the aircraft raises immediate concerns about aviation safety in the region, particularly concerning regional airlines operating in challenging terrain.
- The difficult terrain and the loss of contact after ATC instructions suggest potential factors such as navigational errors or mechanical issues in challenging geography.
- The swift deployment of search and rescue teams indicates the Indonesian government’s commitment to locating the aircraft and its passengers.
First Piper 