inp.polri.go.id - South Sulawesi. The second day of the search for the ATR 42-500 aircraft belonging to Indonesia Air Transport that lost contact in South Sulawesi has yielded some clarity.

A joint Search and Rescue (SAR) team from the South Sulawesi Regional Police found the plane's wreckage in the Mount Bulusaraung area, Balocci District, Pangkep Regency, on Sunday (1/18/2026).

The Director of the South Sulawesi Regional Police's Directorate of Samapta, Senior Superintendent Brury Soekotjo, confirmed that the discovery occurred around 10:00 a.m. while personnel were conducting an intensive search of the mountainous terrain.

"Personnel who are part of the Joint SAR Team have found the crash site and debris of the ATR 42-500 in the Mount Bulusaraung area," he said.

The search operation began at 7:00 a.m., involving joint personnel from the South Sulawesi Regional Police Samapta Directorate, the South Sulawesi Regional Police's Mobile Brigade Corps, the Indonesian National Military (TNI), Basarnas (National Search and Rescue Agency), and the Regional Disaster Management Agency (BPBD).

The team was divided into four search groups to optimize the search coverage in the challenging terrain. The team moved from the assembly point at the Balocci Police Station to the slopes of Mount Bulusaraung.

Following the discovery of the aircraft wreckage, the team's primary focus shifted to evacuating victims and securing the site (status quo) for further investigation by authorities. Some personnel remained on standby at the nearest command post to support logistics and coordinate the evacuation.

The South Sulawesi Regional Police remains committed to providing maximum effort in this humanitarian mission and will continue to provide updates on the progress of the evacuation process on the ground.

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