By Berk Kutay Gokmen
ISTANBUL (AA) - An Indonesian plane carrying 10 people, including seven crew members and three passengers, went missing Saturday in South Sulawesi province, the Transportation Ministry said, according to state news agency ANTARA.
The ATR 42-500 aircraft, operated by aviation company Indonesia Air Transport, lost contact in the Maros district.
“A National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) post has been established near the location,” said Lukman F. Laisa, a ministry official.
The ministry’s Directorate General of Civil Aviation received an initial report regarding the loss of contact with the registered PK-THT, which was heading from Yogyakarta to Makassar.
Preliminary information indicated that the weather situation at the time included visibility of nearly eight kilometers (4.97 miles), with partly cloudy skies.
“Further details are still being coordinated with the Meteorology, Climatology, and Geophysics Agency (BMKG),” the official added.
The Directorate General of Civil Aviation said it continues to coordinate closely with the relevant authorities and will provide regular updates as official information becomes available.