TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - The Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries confirms that the ATR 42-500 aircraft belonging to Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) that lost contact in Maros, South Sulawesi, is a patrol aircraft for the ministry.
"Yes, it is a patrol aircraft," said the Director General of Marine and Fisheries Resources Surveillance (PSDKP), Pung Nugroho Saksono (Ipunk), when contacted by Antara in Jakarta on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
However, he currently lacks information regarding the officers on board as the aircraft has not been located.
Pung stated that the Ministry, through the Directorate General of PSDKP, will deploy personnel to assist in the search. "Yes, (personnel from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries will be dispatched). I even plan to fly there tonight," he said.
Separately, the Directorate General of Civil Aviation of the Ministry of Transportation stated that the IAT ATR 42-500 was reported to carry 10 people.
"The number of people on board (POB) of the aircraft is reported to be 10 people," said the Director General of Civil Aviation, Lukman F. Laisa, in a statement in Jakarta on Saturday.
Lukman mentioned that the 10 people include seven crew members and three passengers. However, he did not provide specific identities for those on board. The Ministry of Transportation received the report of the missing aircraft, registration PK-THT, on Saturday, January 17.
The aircraft, manufactured in 2000 with serial number 611, was flying from Yogyakarta Adi Sucipto (JOG) to Makassar Sultan Hasanuddin (UPG), with Captain Andy Dahananto as the Pilot in Command.
The aircraft remains missing. The search target is the Bantimurung limestone mountains in Leang-leang village, Maros. This location serves as the Basarnas post. Further search efforts involving Indonesian Air Force helicopters in coordination with Basarnas are scheduled for 4:25 PM local time.
AirNav Indonesia is preparing to issue a Notice to Airmen (NOTAM) regarding the search and rescue activities.
Initial weather data at the time of the incident indicates visibility of approximately 8 kilometers with slightly cloudy conditions. Further details are being coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation continues to coordinate through the Region V Makassar Airport Authority with AirNav Indonesia, Basarnas, flight operators, the Air Force, and relevant agencies to monitor the situation.
Read: ATR Plane Missing Near Makassar with 10 on Board
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