MAKASSAR, Legal Literacy — The National National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas) officially closed the search and evacuation operation for victims of the ATR 42-500 aircraft accident which crashed in Mount Bulusaraung, Pangkep Regency, South Sulawesi. The SAR operation was declared complete on Friday (23/1/2026) evening after the team found the aircraft wreckage and all the victims.
Head of Basarnas RI, Vice Marshal TNI Mohammad Syafii, said the decision to stop was taken based on an evaluation meeting after the seventh day of searching.
“Tonight, as the Head of the National SAR Agency and SAR Coordinator, I declare that the search and evacuation operation for the ATR 42-500 aircraft accident is officially complete,” Syafii said in a press conference in Makassar, Friday (23/1/2026).
Operation Closed, Basarnas Remains on Alert
Syafii emphasized that the closure of the SAR operation does not mean Basarnas is stopping all tasks at the location. Basarnas will carry out follow-up operations in the form of routine preparedness operations if there are reports from the public regarding the discovery of remaining body parts of the victims.
“The preparedness operation is aimed at if there are reports from the public finding a body pack… then it is Basarnas' obligation to carry out the operation,” he said.
According to Syafii, the alert operation has no time limit because the discovery of body parts can happen at any time. He ensured that Basarnas remains ready to respond to any new information, with the findings being handed over to the National Police's Disaster Victim Identification (DVI) team for the identification process.
10 Victims Found, Identification Still Underway
Syafii mentioned that the joint SAR team had found 10 victims in deceased condition. In the field, the team evacuated 11. body pack which have all been handed over to the National Police's DVI (Disaster Victim Identification) team.
"The Head of Operations Bureau (South Sulawesi Regional Police) conveyed that all body packs submitted were identified as different body parts," said Syafii.
Based on information from DVI, 11 body pack are confirmed to be from 10 bodies. However, the process of identifying the victims is still ongoing. Syafii stated that the condition of the victims found was relatively intact, even though the aircraft was in a broken condition.
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