Makassar. An aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport carrying 10 people lost contact in South Sulawesi on Saturday afternoon, triggering a large-scale search and rescue operation, authorities said.

Aviation officials said the ATR 42-500 turboprop was approaching its destination on a flight from Yogyakarta to Makassar when it made its last contact at 1:37 p.m. Central Indonesia Time (0637 GMT) over Maros regency.

South Sulawesi Governor Andi Sudirman Sulaiman said search teams had been deployed but were facing severe challenges due to poor weather conditions.

“Search helicopters and ground teams have moved toward the suspected crash area, but operations are being hampered by difficult terrain and bad weather,” Andi told reporters in Makassar.

He said the search involves joint personnel from the police, the military, and the National Search and Rescue Agency.

Maj. Gen. Bangun Nawoko, commander of the Hasanuddin Military Command overseeing Sulawesi, said an army helicopter crew had detected a hotspot that may indicate a fire, supported by reports from local residents who said they heard an explosion and saw flames from a distance.

However, Bangun cautioned that the finding has yet to be confirmed as the crash site.

“This is still being verified. Our suspicion is directed there because a large fire was seen in dense forest. But we are awaiting confirmation from ground teams and helicopter crews,” he said.

Search efforts have been complicated by heavy cloud cover that has significantly reduced visibility in the mountainous karst region, which is covered by thick forest and steep terrain.

To support potential evacuation efforts, ambulances have been placed on standby near the search area. Authorities have also deployed specialized equipment, drones, and satellite-based communication devices to overcome limited mobile signal coverage.

“Communication in the field is extremely difficult, so we are using satellite communications to ensure operational control remains effective,” Bangun said.

He added that officials hope to confirm the aircraft’s status once helicopters are able to land and ground teams reach the suspected location.

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