A plane disappeared in South Sulawesi, Indonesia after a loud explosion was heard and it lost contact with air traffic control. The missing aircraft, an ATR 42-500 belonging to Indonesia Air Transport, was en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar when it vanished about 12 miles into its flight. The aircraft was carrying three passengers and eight crew members.
Emergency services have been dispatched to the speculated crash site in Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, where debris has been sighted in the mountainous area. Authorities suspect the plane has crashed, with reports indicating a potential explosion before its disappearance.
A search and rescue operation is underway in the densely forested areas where the aircraft is believed to have gone down. Officials are focusing on identified “hotspots” for the crash site. Director General of Air Transport, Lukman Laisa, mentioned that the plane deviated from its designated path, prompting air traffic control to issue corrective instructions before losing contact.
The aircraft was reportedly flying at a low altitude over the sea, with the last signal received at 11:20 am local time, northeast of Yogyakarta airport. ATR, the manufacturer of the aircraft, expressed condolences and stated their commitment to assisting the investigation.