• A turboprop aircraft with 11 passengers lost contact near South Sulawesi.
• Multiple search and rescue teams are involved, facing challenging weather conditions.
• Scattered debris has been reported in the search area.
• The aircraft was on a mission for the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries.
• ATR, the aircraft's manufacturer, is aiding local authorities in the investigation.

A regional turboprop aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport, carrying 11 people, including three officials from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, lost contact with air traffic control while approaching a mountainous region in South Sulawesi. The plane was en route from Yogyakarta to Makassar when it vanished around 1:30 PM local time, prompting an immediate search and rescue operation involving multiple agencies, helicopters, and drones according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.

Authorities have reported that as of now, approximately 400 personnel, including military and police units, have been deployed to the search area around Mount Bulusaraung, where debris consistent with the aircraft’s markings has been found. Major General Bangun Nawoko noted that search efforts are being hindered by poor weather conditions, which include cloud cover and limited visibility, according to Reuters and Al Jazeera.

The aircraft, identified as an ATR 42-500, is designed to carry between 42 and 50 passengers. Following the incident, the aircraft manufacturer ATR expressed its commitment to assist Indonesian authorities in the ongoing investigation, as well as to support the operator, according to India Times and Channel News Asia.

Approximately 1:17 PM local time, air traffic controllers instructed the aircraft to adjust its approach as it closed in on Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport; however, radio communication was lost shortly thereafter, leading to the emergency distress signal being declared. This incident raises further concerns regarding Indonesia's aviation safety record, which has seen several fatal accidents in recent years, according to CBS News and South China Morning Post.