An ATR 400 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport was reported to have lost contact on January 17, while flying from Yogyakarta to Makassar. The aircraft was carrying 11 people, comprising eight crew members and three passengers, the local MetroTV News reports.

According to the Makassar Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the aircraft was last detected at around 1:17 pm Central Indonesia Time (WITA). Its estimated last position was near the border area between Maros and Pangkajene and Islands (Pangkep) regencies in South Sulawesi, close to the Leang-leang area, at coordinates 04°57’08” South Latitude and 119°42’54” East Longitude.

Following the report, Basarnas Makassar immediately mobilised rescue teams to the location. Andi Sultan, Head of Operations at Basarnas Makassar, said search personnel were dispatched to the coordinates provided by AirNav Makassar.

“We are currently heading towards the location based on the coordinates issued by AirNav, which are around the Leang-leang area in Maros Regency,” Sultan said in a written statement on January 17 afternoon.

Basarnas initially deployed a five-person advance team to conduct an on-site assessment. A second team of 15 personnel, supported by around 40 additional SAR resources, was scheduled to follow. The teams are equipped with rescue vehicles and drones to support the search operation.

Meanwhile, unverified images circulating on social media claim to show the aircraft having crashed in the Mount Bulusaraung area, with residents reportedly finding aircraft debris. Authorities have stressed that the authenticity of these images has not been confirmed.

Search efforts are currently focused on Maros and Pangkep regencies, in line with the aircraft’s last known coordinates, as rescue teams continue efforts to determine the aircraft’s status and location.