Indonesian Plane with 11 Aboard Missing Near Makassar

A regional passenger aircraft carrying 11 people vanished from radar Saturday afternoon while approaching Makassar in South Sulawesi, Indonesia, prompting an extensive search and rescue operation amid reports of wreckage scattered across a remote mountain. The turboprop ATR 42-500, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was en route from Yogyakarta on Java to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport when it lost contact with air traffic control around 1:17 p.m. local time.

Authorities believe the plane crashed in the rugged terrain of Bulusaraung National Park near the Leang-Leang area of Maros district, a mountainous region linking Maros and Pangkep districts. The aircraft had eight crew members and three passengers from Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries aboard. According to Endah Purnama Sari, a spokesperson for the Transportation Ministry, the plane disappeared shortly after air traffic controllers issued instructions to correct its approach alignment. "After the last ATC instructions, radio contact was lost and controllers declared the emergency distress phase," Sari said.

Search teams, including air force helicopters, drones, ground units, police and...