Rescuers have found a body in the wreckage of an Indonesian plane that crashed on an island, with hopes still alive for the remaining 11 people aboard.
The recovered body, believed to be from the aircraft, was located at a depth of approximately 656 feet in a ravine on the side of Sulawesi island’s Mount Bulusaraung on Sunday afternoon. The discovery was made near the scattered debris 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 operation was initiated. The Makassar Search and Rescue Office is currently carrying out the retrieval of the body.
Although the identity of the recovered remains is yet to be confirmed, larger debris consistent with the aircraft’s main sections, including the fuselage and tail, were also recovered from a steep northern slope.
Muhammad Arif Anwar, the chief of the Makassar Search and Rescue Office, expressed optimism, stating that finding the main parts of the aircraft has narrowed down the search area, aiding in the ongoing search for potential survivors.
Approximately 100 personnel, backed by the country’s armed forces, have been deployed to various sectors for the search operation. Adverse weather conditions, including heavy rain and thick fog with limited visibility, have posed challenges to the rescue efforts.
Major General Bangun Nawoko, the military commander of South Sulawesi Hasanuddin, highlighted the impact of the inclement weather on the rescue operation, leading to the cancellation of certain safety procedures. Images and videos released by the National Search and Rescue Agency depict rescuers navigating through difficult terrain in foggy conditions to access the scattered wreckage.
The plane, carrying eight crew members and three passengers from the Marine Affairs and Fisheries Ministry on a maritime surveillance mission, was last tracked at 1:17 pm local time before the crash. Indonesia heavily relies on air travel and maritime transport to connect its vast archipelago of approximately 17,000 islands.
The nation has faced numerous transport accidents, including airplane and bus crashes, as well as ferry disasters.