JAKARTA – Indonesian rescuers have found one victim from the crashed ATR 42-500 aircraft on Mount Bulusaraung in Pangkep regency, South Sulawesi, authorities said on Sunday.
The victim was discovered on the mountain slope and was evacuated to the search and rescue (SAR) command post in Tompobulu village.
“Today our team, besides evacuating several pieces of aircraft wreckage, has found one victim,” Commander of the XIV/Hasanuddin Military Regional Command, Major General Bangun Nawoko, told reporters at the SAR post as quoted by local media.
Nawoko said the victim’s condition and identity had yet to be confirmed, as the rescue team was still focusing on evacuation under challenging terrain.
“We cannot elaborate on the condition of the victim yet. What is clear is that this requires a tough effort because the conditions are extraordinary,” he said, adding that the victim was found not far from the debris site.
The ATR 42-500 aircraft reportedly lost contact over Maros regency in South Sulawesi province. The plane was operating a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar when communication with air traffic control was cut off on Saturday.
According to official data, 10 people were on board the aircraft at the time it lost contact, comprising seven crew members and three passengers.