TEMPO.CO, Jakarta - An Indonesia Air Transport (IAT) ATR 42-500 plane, registered as PK-THT, lost contact while approaching Sultan Hasanuddin Airport, Makassar, on Saturday, January 17, 2026. The Directorate General of Civil Aviation received the report earlier today.
Director General of Civil Aviation Lukman F. Laisa stated the aircraft was operated by IAT, holder of Air Operator Certificate (AOC) 034. The aircraft, manufactured in 2000 with serial number 611, flew from Adi Sucipto Yogyakarta to Sultan Hasanuddin Makassar with Pilot in Command Capt. Andy Dahananto.
"At 04:23 UTC, the aircraft was directed by the ATC Makassar Area Terminal Service Center (MATSC) to approach Runway 21," Lukman said in a written statement on Saturday, January 17, 2026.
Based on the chronology received by aviation authorities, the aircraft was identified as being off the correct approach path. Air Traffic Control (ATC) instructed the crew to correct its position to return to the landing path.
The ATC issued further instructions, but communication was lost after the final directive. ATC MATSC then declared a DISTRESSFA emergency phase in accordance with flight safety regulations.
AirNav Indonesia MATSC coordinated with the Basarnas Central Rescue Coordination Center (RCC) and the Maros District Police to support search efforts. Sultan Hasanuddin Airport management prepared a Crisis Center in the Departure Terminal for coordination and information.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation recorded 10 people on board: seven crew members and three passengers. Weather conditions at the incident location showed eight kilometers of visibility with slightly cloudy skies. Further details are being coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG).
The Ministry of Transportation stated it is coordinating with the Makassar Airport Authority, AirNav Indonesia, Basarnas, the airline, and the Indonesian Air Force to monitor the situation and ensure handling measures follow safety procedures.
Read: BMKG Alerts Areas to Extreme Weather Until January 22
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