Search and rescue teams continued operations on Sunday to locate an ATR 42-500 aircraft believed to have crashed in the mountainous region of Maros Regency, South Sulawesi, as officials confirmed the discovery of debris and outlined early findings from the ongoing investigation.

The turboprop aircraft, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was flying from Adisutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar when it lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday afternoon, Jan. 17. The aircraft, manufactured in 2000 with serial number 611, was approaching Makassar when communication ceased.

Air traffic controllers later determined that the aircraft was not aligned with its designated approach path and instructed the crew to correct its position. Shortly afterward, the aircraft disappeared from radar.

Debris Found on Mount Bulusaraung

Six pieces of debris believed to be from the aircraft were found on the slopes of Mount Bulusaraung by hikers and later recovered by rescue teams.

“There are six fragments, if I am not mistaken,” said Muhammad Arsyad, secretary of the Pangkep Disaster Management Agency. “Some of them appear to be parts of the aircraft’s outer structure.”

Mr. Arsyad added that among the items recovered was a pilot’s book, strengthening suspicions that the debris belonged to the missing aircraft.

Debris Secured as Search Intensifies

Maj. Gen. Bangun Nawoko, commander of the Indonesian military’s XIV Hasanuddin Regional Command, said the debris had been transported to the Pangkep Police Headquarters for verification.

“We hope this is encouraging news,” he said. “Hikers who happened to be on Mount Bulusaraung found several fragments and documents. These items have now been secured by the police to confirm whether they are indeed from the aircraft.”

He said a command post had been established in Tompobulu Village, Pangkajene Kepulauan Regency, to support search operations, and that an Indonesian Air Force Caracal helicopter would be deployed to assist from the air.

“Earlier efforts were limited by cloud cover,” he said. “We expect aerial searches to resume as soon as conditions allow.”

Three Government Officials Among Passengers

The Minister of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, Sakti Wahyu Trenggono, confirmed that three employees of his ministry were aboard the aircraft and were on official duty.

“It is correct that there were employees of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries on the plane,” Mr. Trenggono said during a news conference Saturday evening. “They were carrying out an aerial surveillance mission related to fisheries resource monitoring.”

He identified the passengers as Ferry Irawan, a patrol vessel analyst; Deden Mulyana, a state asset management officer; and Yoga Naufal, an aerial photography operator.

Flight Followed Standard Procedures

Airport officials in Yogyakarta said the aircraft departed at 8:08 a.m. local time after completing all required pre-flight procedures.

“All security checks and boarding procedures were carried out in accordance with applicable regulations,” said Col. Wibowo Cahyono Soekadi, general manager of Adisutjipto Airport. He confirmed that there were 10 people on board, including crew members.

Indonesia’s director general of civil aviation, Lukman F. Laisa, said weather conditions at the time were not considered severe.

“Initial information shows visibility of about eight kilometers, with light cloud cover in the area,” Mr. Laisa said.

Investigators Suspect Impact With Terrain

The National Transportation Safety Committee said early indications suggested the aircraft may have collided with mountainous terrain, which could explain why its emergency locator transmitter failed to activate.

“If an aircraft strikes a mountain at high impact, the emergency locator transmitter is often destroyed,” said Soerjanto Tjahjono, the committee’s chairman. “That would prevent it from transmitting a distress signal.”

He emphasized that the investigation was still in its early stages and that definitive conclusions would depend on further findings from the crash site.