The fuselage was located on Tuesday in a remote area of Indonesia, following intensified efforts by search and rescue teams involving the military, police, and disaster response agencies. Officials said the wreckage was found after aerial surveillance and ground teams narrowed the search area based on debris spotted in recent days.
According to the National Search and Rescue Agency (Basarnas), the fuselage was discovered largely intact but severely damaged, indicating a high-impact crash. Investigators are now working to secure the site and recover key components that could help determine the cause of the accident, including flight data and cockpit voice recorders, if present.
The aircraft had been reported missing after losing contact with air traffic control while en route on a domestic flight. On board were passengers and crew, though authorities have not yet released an updated official toll pending identification and notification of families.
Transportation safety officials stated that the discovery of the fuselage would allow investigators to better reconstruct the final moments of the flight. “Finding the main body of the aircraft is crucial for understanding what happened and for supporting the identification process,” an official said.
Indonesia, an archipelago with challenging terrain and weather conditions, has experienced several aviation accidents in recent decades, often complicated by difficult access to crash sites. Adverse weather and dense vegetation have slowed recovery efforts in this case as well.
The investigation is being led by Indonesia’s National Transportation Safety Committee (KNKT), with assistance expected from international aviation experts and the aircraft manufacturer. Authorities said further updates would be provided as recovery operations and forensic work progress.
