President Dr Mohamed Muizzu has sent a message of condolence to the President of the Republic of Indonesia,  Prabowo Subianto, following the fatal plane crash in South Sulawesi province.

In his message, President Dr Muizzu expressed shock and sadness upon learning of the incident, which took the lives of eight crew members and three officials from Indonesia’s Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries. 

On behalf of the Government and the people of the Maldives, the President conveyed heartfelt sympathies to President Subianto, the government and people of Indonesia, and the bereaved families. He also extended sincere best wishes for the success of the rescue and recovery efforts currently underway.

The crash occurred on 17 January 2026, when an ATR 42 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport struck Mount Bulusaraung during a maritime surveillance mission. The aircraft had departed Yogyakarta and was bound for Makassar’s Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport.

According to Indonesian authorities, the accident resulted in the deaths of all 11 people on board. The victims included eight crew members and three ministry officials. The wreckage was located on 18 January, a day after the aircraft went missing. Investigators have classified the incident as a Controlled Flight Into Terrain (CFIT), with poor weather and challenging terrain cited as possible contributing factors.

Rescue teams have faced steep terrain and difficult conditions at the crash site, but recovery operations are continuing. The tragedy has drawn condolences from leaders across the region, underscoring the shared grief and solidarity with Indonesia in the wake of the disaster.