All victims aboard the Indonesian aircraft that crashed in South Sulawesi have been recovered, seven days after the plane went missing, search and rescue officials confirmed on Friday.
An official of the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) in Makassar, Andi Sultan, said the final bodies were located on Friday morning on the slopes of Mount Bulusaraung in Maros District, according to local media reports.
Rescue teams had earlier recovered eight bodies during intensive operations carried out over several days in the mountainous terrain. The discovery of the remaining victims brings the total number of fatalities to 10.
The aircraft, an ATR 42-500 operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was carrying officials from the Ministry of Maritime Affairs and Fisheries who were on an aerial surveillance mission to monitor regional maritime resources. On board were seven crew members and three passengers.
Authorities said only two of the victims have so far been formally identified — cabin crew member Florencia Lolita and passenger Deden Maulana — with efforts ongoing to complete the identification of the remaining victims.
The plane lost contact with air traffic control on Saturday while flying from Yogyakarta to Makassar, the capital of South Sulawesi. Wreckage from the aircraft was discovered the following day, prompting a large-scale joint search and rescue operation involving security agencies and local authorities.
Officials also confirmed that the aircraft’s flight data recorder, commonly known as the black box, has been recovered from the crash site. Investigators say the device will be crucial in determining the cause of the accident.
Search operations have now been concluded, while attention shifts to the investigation and support for the families of the victims.