Rescue workers in Indonesia achieved a vital milestone Sunday, discovering a potential survivor from the crashed ATR 42-500 near Mount Bulusarung in Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi. After the plane vanished en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar, teams scoured treacherous slopes and recovered debris along with one victim.
Eyewitness accounts from the SAR command post in Tonpobulu village paint a picture of grueling work. The victim, spotted on the hillside, is being carefully moved to safety. Major General Bangun Nawoko of the Hasanuddin Military Regional Command addressed the media: ‘We have positive developments – multiple wreckage fragments and one victim recovered.’
Transportation to the Tompobulu Aju command post is underway, but confirmation of the victim’s identity and health status awaits. ‘Details are pending as our focus remains on the difficult rescue zone,’ Nawoko noted, highlighting the proximity of the find to the crash site. Fog shrouding the mountain summit and sheer inclines are complicating the mission.
The flight, carrying 10 souls – seven crew and three passengers – lost radar contact Saturday over Maros Regency. Indonesia’s aviation history is dotted with such mishaps in its complex geography, prompting calls for enhanced safety protocols. With one victim in sight, rescuers press on, battling nature’s fury to uncover the fate of the others. Families hold their breath as the operation unfolds.
