Maros, South Sulawesi, January 18, 2026 – Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) has determined that the crash of an ATR 42-500 aircraft on Mount Bulusaraung was a case of Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), meaning the plane impacted terrain while still under the pilot’s control.
Search Continues for Victims of Sulawesi Plane Crash
Investigators are classifying the fatal accident as CFIT, but emphasize the crash was likely unintentional.
- The ATR 42-500, operated by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT), crashed into Mount Bulusaraung in South Sulawesi.
- The crash is classified as Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT).
- One unidentified body has been recovered, and the search for remaining victims continues.
“We call it a CFIT, which indicates that the plane crashed against a hill or mountain slope, causing it to disintegrate upon impact,” KNKT Chief Soerjanto Tjahjono told reporters Sunday at Hasanuddin International Airport. He clarified that while termed “controlled,” such incidents are almost always not intentional.
What exactly does ‘Controlled Flight Into terrain’ mean? It describes an accident where a functioning aircraft, under pilot control, is unintentionally flown into the ground, a mountain, or other terrain. It’s a chilling phrase, and often points to a breakdown in situational awareness or navigational errors.
“The aircraft was still under the pilot’s control when it crashed, but that does not mean the pilot intentionally caused the accident,” Tjahjono affirmed, adding that debris from the aircraft has been located. The crash site is spread across parts of the Maros and Pangkajene and Islands regencies.
The aircraft, operated by indonesia Air Transport (IAT), was reported missing Saturday afternoon while traveling from Yogyakarta to Hasanuddin Airport. On board were Captain andi Dahananto, seven crew members, and three passengers: Ferry Irawan, a patrol vessel analyst; Deden Mulyana, a state asset manager; and yoga Naufal, an aerial photo operator-all employees of the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
Search and rescue teams discovered an unidentified male body in a ravine at approximately 2 p.m. local time Sunday. The ongoing search operation involves the national SAR Agency (Basarnas), police, and the military, focused on locating the remaining victims.
Marine Affairs and Fisheries Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono expressed his condolences Saturday night, stating the flight was part of the ministry’s regular air surveillance program conducted in partnership with IAT.
Inquiry Underway,No Premature Conclusions
Tjahjono stated the KNKT will continue a thorough investigation into the accident,refraining from speculation regarding potential human or technical errors. The focus remains on understanding the sequence of events that led to the CFIT event and preventing similar tragedies in the future.
