Rescuers have recovered a body from an Indonesian aircraft as part of the search for 11 individuals aboard a plane that crashed on an island. Despite the grim discovery, there is still optimism for potential survivors.
The body of a man was retrieved from a ravine on the slope of Sulawesi island’s Mount Bulusaraung, approximately 656 feet below the surface. This recovery operation took place on Sunday afternoon. The body was found near the scattered remnants of the Indonesia Air ATR 42 plane.
Following the crash on January 17 during a flight from Adisutjipto Airport to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport, a rescue mission was initiated. The Makassar Search and Rescue Office is currently working on evacuating the recovered body.
Although the identity of the remains has not been confirmed, they are believed to be associated with the aircraft. Additionally, larger debris pieces consistent with the main fuselage and tail have been located on a steep northern slope.
“The discovery of the main sections of the aircraft has helped to narrow down the search area significantly, providing a crucial lead for our search efforts,” stated Muhammad Arif Anwar, the chief of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office. The joint search teams are now concentrating on locating any potential survivors.
Approximately 100 personnel, including armed forces members, have been deployed across various sectors to assist in the operation. However, challenging weather conditions such as heavy rain and thick fog with limited visibility have complicated the search efforts.
Due to the adverse weather conditions, Major General Bangun Nawoko, the military commander of South Sulawesi Hasanuddin, mentioned that safety concerns led to the cancellation of a planned vertical descent. Photos and videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency depict rescuers navigating a steep, fog-covered mountain ridge to access the scattered wreckage.
The plane, which was carrying eight crew members and three passengers from the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry on a maritime surveillance mission, was last located at 1:17 pm local time. Indonesia heavily relies on air transport and ferry services to connect its vast archipelago of around 17,000 islands.
The country has experienced various transport accidents, including plane crashes, bus incidents, and ferry disasters.