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Indonesia
- Asep Haryono | ATR 42-500 Plane Crash in Indonesia: I Used to Fly on the Same Type - Powered by Blogger
Indonesia is in mourning following a tragic aircraft accident involving an ATR 42-500 turboprop plane operated by Indonesia Air Transport (IAT). The aircraft went missing during a domestic flight and was later found crashed in a mountainous area of South Sulawesi. Authorities are continuing to investigate the cause of the accident.
The incident occurred on Friday, 17 January 2026. The ATR 42-500 aircraft, registered PK-THT, was flying from Adisutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar. According to aviation officials, the plane lost contact with air traffic control while approaching Makassar. Before disappearing from radar, the pilot was asked to correct the aircraft’s position. Shortly afterward, all communication was lost.
There were 11 people on board, including 8 crew members and 3 passengers. Some passengers were reportedly officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, traveling for work-related duties. On Saturday, 18 January 2026, rescue teams found aircraft debris scattered on the mountain slopes at an altitude of around 1,300 to 1,400 meters above sea level, confirming the plane had crashed.
After reaching the crash site, teams discovered wreckage spread across the slope and nearby ravines. One victim’s body was recovered from a ravine estimated to be about 200 meters deep. Evacuation efforts have been slow due to the challenging terrain. Authorities have not yet released full victim details, as identification procedures are still ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) is leading the investigation. Officials emphasized that the exact cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed.
I used to fly on the same type of aircraft as the one that crashed: ATR 42-500..
The incident occurred on Friday, 17 January 2026. The ATR 42-500 aircraft, registered PK-THT, was flying from Adisutjipto Airport in Yogyakarta to Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport in Makassar. According to aviation officials, the plane lost contact with air traffic control while approaching Makassar. Before disappearing from radar, the pilot was asked to correct the aircraft’s position. Shortly afterward, all communication was lost.
There were 11 people on board, including 8 crew members and 3 passengers. Some passengers were reportedly officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, traveling for work-related duties. On Saturday, 18 January 2026, rescue teams found aircraft debris scattered on the mountain slopes at an altitude of around 1,300 to 1,400 meters above sea level, confirming the plane had crashed.
After reaching the crash site, teams discovered wreckage spread across the slope and nearby ravines. One victim’s body was recovered from a ravine estimated to be about 200 meters deep. Evacuation efforts have been slow due to the challenging terrain. Authorities have not yet released full victim details, as identification procedures are still ongoing. The National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT) is leading the investigation. Officials emphasized that the exact cause of the crash has not yet been confirmed.
I used to fly on the same type of aircraft as the one that crashed: ATR 42-500..
Well, when I had the opportunity to use KALSTAR , the same type of ATR 42-500 mentioned above, when I flew to Salatiga from Pontianak , West Kalimantan, Indonesia to take part in the Local Leadership Day II on 7-9 March 2014 with the purpose of Semarang, Central Java,Indonesia. As far as I know, there were no direct flights from Pontianak to Salatiga except through the city of Semarang. The distance between Semarang and Salatiga is not too far away
I remember the first time I flew with a propeller. This is as I recall. Hopefully it's not a mistake. What if the wrong memory can be what huh? Since 1990, the plane first boarded until the end of 2011, always flying using a jet engine. That is, there is no propeller. So, so, when Karlstar got up, the jeroji feeling (read: nervous) immediately beat my feelings.
I don't know the feeling of anxiety, jeroji (nervousness), kinds of raging inside this chest. Well, in short, my Karlstar plane is for Pontianak - Semarang flight at 07.55 WIB, it turns out to be around 25 (twenty five) minutes.
The first time to fly with Karstar has been greeted with a delay. And after all my business was finished I immediately went on board with a position near the Window. I always like to choose a seat near Window. The reason is clear, I always like to see clouds of clouds in height and moments when landing and taking off from Windows. Here I say in the photo below
NOTE :
While the aircraft type is the same, those images above is NOT the exact aircraft involved in the crash. This is only a representative image of an ATR 42-500; however, the description can give you a clear sense of what it feels like to be on board the ATR 42-500 that crashed.
My Thoughts for Passengers
This tragic accident has deeply saddened many people, especially the families of those on board. However, it is important for passengers to not let fear take over when thinking about air travel.
Flying remains one of the safest ways to travel. Every accident is taken very seriously, and aviation authorities carefully investigate each case to understand what went wrong and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future. These investigations help improve safety standards, pilot training, navigation systems, and operating procedures
Indonesia’s aviation sector continues to learn and improve, especially when operating in challenging environments such as mountainous regions and remote islands. Airlines, pilots, and regulators all share the same goal: keeping passengers safe.
For passengers, it is natural to feel worried after hearing news like this. But it is important to remember that millions of flights operate safely every year, including aircraft like the ATR series that are widely used around the world. The best way to honor the victims is not through fear, but through continued trust in safety improvements and respect for the investigation process. Authorities will release clear findings once the investigation is complete.
My thoughts remain with the victims and their families, while we move forward with hope, caution, and confidence in safer skies.
I remember the first time I flew with a propeller. This is as I recall. Hopefully it's not a mistake. What if the wrong memory can be what huh? Since 1990, the plane first boarded until the end of 2011, always flying using a jet engine. That is, there is no propeller. So, so, when Karlstar got up, the jeroji feeling (read: nervous) immediately beat my feelings.
I don't know the feeling of anxiety, jeroji (nervousness), kinds of raging inside this chest. Well, in short, my Karlstar plane is for Pontianak - Semarang flight at 07.55 WIB, it turns out to be around 25 (twenty five) minutes.
The first time to fly with Karstar has been greeted with a delay. And after all my business was finished I immediately went on board with a position near the Window. I always like to choose a seat near Window. The reason is clear, I always like to see clouds of clouds in height and moments when landing and taking off from Windows. Here I say in the photo below
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| Inside the Kalstar Airplane Cabin before taking off from Pontianak Supadio Airport to Ahmad Yani Semarang. Photo of Asep Haryono |
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| There are two information on Kalstar. Tabloid inflight shop and flight safety instructions. The goods in the inflight shop are expensive. You buy. If you want it, please. Photo of Asep Haryono |
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| The Kalstar aircraft propeller, complete with its exhaust stack, was captured by my camera. The photo was taken from my window seat. Photo Asep Haryono |
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| The control panel above the Kalstar aircraft seat includes the lights and a small air conditioner. Unfortunately, the air conditioner didn’t feel cold. I had to keep moving while working on this Kalstar flight. Photo: Asep Haryono |
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| Here is the snack: a glass of mineral water and a package of soft bread containing two pieces. Earlier, we also received one piece of wafer. Photo: Asep Haryono |
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| When landing at Ahmad Yani International Airport in the city of Semarang (Central Java) on 7 March 2014 I took a picture of the plane. Beautiful is the physical form. Photo of Asep Haryono |
NOTE :
While the aircraft type is the same, those images above is NOT the exact aircraft involved in the crash. This is only a representative image of an ATR 42-500; however, the description can give you a clear sense of what it feels like to be on board the ATR 42-500 that crashed.
My Thoughts for Passengers
This tragic accident has deeply saddened many people, especially the families of those on board. However, it is important for passengers to not let fear take over when thinking about air travel.
Flying remains one of the safest ways to travel. Every accident is taken very seriously, and aviation authorities carefully investigate each case to understand what went wrong and how similar incidents can be prevented in the future. These investigations help improve safety standards, pilot training, navigation systems, and operating procedures
Indonesia’s aviation sector continues to learn and improve, especially when operating in challenging environments such as mountainous regions and remote islands. Airlines, pilots, and regulators all share the same goal: keeping passengers safe.
For passengers, it is natural to feel worried after hearing news like this. But it is important to remember that millions of flights operate safely every year, including aircraft like the ATR series that are widely used around the world. The best way to honor the victims is not through fear, but through continued trust in safety improvements and respect for the investigation process. Authorities will release clear findings once the investigation is complete.
My thoughts remain with the victims and their families, while we move forward with hope, caution, and confidence in safer skies.
A Message From Asep Haryono
"Thank you so much for your time here. I really appreciate your precious moment here as well. Please leave any comment down below. Let me hear from you. Greetings from Indonesia"
Che tragedia!
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