JAKARTA: An ATR 42-500 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) lost contact on Saturday over Maros District, South Sulawesi, while en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar.
Indonesian Civil Aviation Director General Lukman F. Laisa said the aircraft, registered as PK-THT, was reportedly carrying 10 people, comprising seven crew members and three passengers.
He said that, based on the latest chronological information, the aircraft had been instructed by the Makassar Area Terminal Service Centre Air Traffic Control at 04:23 UTC (12.23 pm Malaysia Time) to conduct an approach to Runway 21 at Sultan Hasanuddin Airport in Makassar.
“During the approach process, the aircraft was identified as not being on the prescribed approach path and, as a result, Air Traffic Control (ATC) provided revised instructions to the flight crew to correct the aircraft’s position.
“ATC subsequently issued several further instructions to guide the aircraft back onto the landing path in accordance with established procedures. Following the last instruction issued by ATC, communication with the aircraft was lost (loss of contact),” he said in a statement on Saturday.
He added that in response to the situation, ATC declared a DETRESFA (Distress Phase) emergency in accordance with applicable regulations and procedures.
The aircraft, manufactured in 2000, was operating a flight from Yogyakarta Adi Sucipto Airport to Makassar Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, with Captain Andy Dahananto serving as Pilot in Command.
Lukman said search and rescue efforts were immediately activated and coordinated by the AirNav Indonesia MATSC branch in cooperation with the National Basarnas Rescue Coordination Centre (RCC), as well as the Maros Police Resort through the airport police chief.
He said Sultan Hasanuddin Airport has prepared to open a crisis centre at the departure terminal to serve as an information coordination hub.
“The search target area is in the Bantimurung limestone mountain range, Leang-leang village, Maros Regency, where a Basarnas command post has been established near the location.
“Follow-up search operations are planned to be carried out by Indonesian Air Force (TNI AU) helicopters in coordination with Basarnas, scheduled for 4.25 pm Central Indonesia Time (WITA).”
“AirNav Indonesia is also preparing to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) in relation to the ongoing search and rescue operations,” he added.
He said, according to initial information, visibility at the time of the incident was approximately eight kilometres, with weather conditions reported to be partly cloudy.
“Further details and confirmation are still being coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG),” he said.
Lukman added that the Directorate General of Civil Aviation continues to maintain intensive coordination through the Makassar Regional Airport Authority Office (Region V) with AirNav Indonesia, Basarnas, the airline operator, the Indonesian Air Force, and other relevant agencies.
