Makassar: Rescue teams have recovered the body of a man from the debris of a turboprop aircraft that lost contact with air traffic controllers a day earlier while approaching Makassar, Indonesia, officials said Sunday. The body was found on a 200-metre-deep slope on Mount Bulusaraung in the province of South Sulawesi, said the head of the Makassar search and rescue agency, Muhammad Arif Anwar.
According to Ghana News Agency, search teams had previously discovered several pieces of wreckage in the limestone mountains of Bantimurung, including parts of the hull, bow, and stern. The wreckage lies in mountainous terrain that is difficult to access. Authorities stated that the plane was carrying 10 people, correcting earlier statements that had put the number at 11, and added that the fate of the others on board remained unknown.
The ATR aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, went missing on Saturday during a flight from Yogyakarta, on the island of Java, to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar. The Transportation Ministry said the aircraft lost contact with air traffic control during the landing approach after deviating from its intended course.
The plane was operated by Indonesia Air Transport, a domestic carrier that provides charter, cargo, and passenger flights across the country. ATR aircraft are widely used across Indonesia, an archipelago of more than 17,000 islands, where turboprop planes are often the most practical option for connecting regional and remote destinations.