KNKT Says ATR 42-500 Crash on Mount Bulusaraung Is CFIT
Key Takeaways
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MAKASSAR, Investortrust.id — An ATR 42-500 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport crashed into Mount Bulusaraung on Sunday, Jan 18, 2026 in South Sulawesi after striking the mountain slope in a controlled condition, an incident classified as controlled flight into terrain that triggered a full-scale rescue and safety investigation.
National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) chairman Soerjanto Tjahjono said the aircraft was still under pilot control when it hit the terrain, indicating no immediate evidence of in-flight technical failure.
CFIT refers to a situation where an airworthy aircraft, fully controlled by the pilot, unintentionally collides with terrain, water, or obstacles due to a loss of situational awareness.
“In CFIT, the aircraft is controllable and the pilot remains in command, but the aircraft impacts a hill or mountain slope before avoidance is possible,” Soerjanto told reporters at Hasanuddin International Airport in Maros.
He stressed that the crash was not deliberate and that investigators were still examining flight data, wreckage distribution, and operational conditions before drawing conclusions on contributing factors.
Evacuation Operations
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National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) prepared two evacuation scenarios for the crash site on Mount Bulusaraung, depending on weather and wind conditions.
Basarnas head Mohammad Syafii said air evacuation using a Caracal helicopter with a hoist system would be prioritized, while a ground evacuation would be used if aerial access proved unsafe.
“Evacuation will involve both victims and critical aircraft parts needed for the KNKT investigation,” Syafii said in a statement received in Jakarta.
Rescue teams from Basarnas, the Indonesian Armed Forces, the National Police, local authorities, and volunteers were deployed with air, ground, and field communication support.
Basarnas confirmed that one male victim was recovered from a ravine about 200 meters deep near aircraft debris and was evacuated using vertical rescue techniques for further identification.
Manufacturer Support
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ATR said it had deployed specialist teams to support Indonesian authorities in investigating the ATR 42-500 crash involving Indonesia Air Transport.
“ATR has been informed of an accident in Indonesia involving an ATR 42-500, and our specialists are fully engaged to support the investigation led by Indonesian authorities and the operator,” the manufacturer said in an official statement.
ATR also expressed its condolences to all those affected by the accident and confirmed its cooperation in technical analysis and wreckage assessment.
The ATR 42-500 is a turboprop aircraft widely used in Indonesia for pioneer and short-runway routes, particularly in mountainous regions such as South Sulawesi.