Indonesian ATR aircraft with 11 on board goes missing near Makassar, debris spotted on mountain

New Delhi: An Indonesian ATR 42-500 aircraft with 11 people on board went missing near Makassar on Friday, with videos circulating on social media appearing to show debris in mountainous terrain close to where contact with the plane was lost.

Flight-tracking website Flightradar24 said the aircraft, operated by Indonesia's Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, disappeared from radar while flying at low altitude over the ocean, limiting radar coverage. The plane's last signal was received at 04:20 UTC, about 12 miles (20 km) northeast of Makassar Airport.

Also Read

"Vital for US and global security": Trump imposes 10% tariffs on European countries opposing Greenland plan

Another Hindu man killed in Bangladesh as BNP worker"s car crushes fuel station employee

"Protests an American plot": Khamenei blames Trump for deaths in Iran, calls US president a "criminal"

Local media reported that contact with the aircraft was lost at around 1.17pm local time. The plane was carrying 11 people, including eight crew members and three passengers.

Videos shared on social media showed what appeared to be burning wreckage near the peak of Mount Bulu Saraung. The footage showed dense fog, scattered personal belongings across rocky terrain and a small fire among the debris, which the person filming attempted to extinguish.

Add TV9 English As A Trusted Source

According to reports, the aircraft disappeared from radar while approaching Makassar Airport after receiving route instructions from air traffic control.

Indonesian authorities have not yet confirmed that the aircraft has crashed. Andi Sultan, head of operations at Indonesia's search and rescue agency in Makassar, said rescue teams were being dispatched to the area.