Indonesian Rescuers Find Aircraft Wreckage on Sulawesi

Indonesian rescuers have located the wreckage of a missing plane that went off radar on Saturday. The ATR 42-500 disappeared while approaching a mountainous region in Sulawesi. The aircraft was part of a maritime mission with 11 people on board. Search efforts continue amid challenging weather conditions.

Indonesian rescuers have recovered the wreckage of a missing plane believed to have crashed in a mountainous region of Sulawesi island. The discovery comes after the aircraft, which vanished amid cloudy conditions, was last tracked on Saturday.

The ATR 42-500, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar when it lost contact. The plane was carrying eight crew members and three Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry personnel on an airborne surveillance mission. The wreckage was spotted in the Leang-Leang area of Maros, with larger debris found on Mount Bulusaraung's steep slope.

Rescue operations have intensified as teams focus on potential survivors. Despite harsh weather and challenging terrain, ground and air rescuers press on, determined to locate those missing in the crash. Indonesia's dependency on air and sea routes underscores the urgency in addressing its history of transportation accidents.

(With inputs from agencies.)