JAKARTA – Indonesian search and rescue (SAR) teams have officially confirmed the recovery of all ten individuals on board the ATR 42-500 aircraft that crashed near Mount Bulusaraung, South Sulawesi. The discovery of the final two bodies early Friday morning brings a somber end to the intensive search operation.
The aircraft, an Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) plane chartered by the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries, disappeared from radar during a patrol flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar. The victims include seven crew members and three ministry officials.
Amidst the recovery efforts, speculation circulated on social media suggesting that a pilot’s smartwatch had transmitted a “live” heart rate signal following the crash. However, officials from the South Sulawesi Search and Rescue Agency and the National Transportation Safety Committee (NTSC) have clarified that there were no survivors. “The impact was severe, and all victims found at the site were deceased. We urge the public to rely on official statements rather than unverified digital signals or social media rumors,” said a spokesperson for the rescue operation. Technical experts noted that electronic devices often transmit erratic or automated data even after a fatal impact due to sensor malfunctions.
The focus has now shifted to the investigation phase. The aircraft’s black box has been recovered and is being analyzed by the NTSC to determine why the plane struck the steep, fog-shrouded slopes of the mountain. Preliminary evidence, based on the distribution of the fuselage and engine debris, indicates the plane was in a controlled flight state before the collision.
The recovery mission is now moving into the debris clearance phase, as the steep and treacherous terrain continues to pose a challenge for personnel on the ground.
