An Indonesian passenger aircraft carrying 11 people disappeared from radar on Saturday while approaching a mountainous region between the islands of Java and Sulawesi, prompting a large-scale search and rescue operation, officials said.

The turboprop ATR 42-500 aircraft operated by Indonesia Air Transport was flying from Yogyakarta to South Sulawesi’s capital when it lost contact with air traffic control, according to Transportation Ministry spokesperson Endah Purnama Sari. The plane was last detected at 1:17 pm local time in the Leang-Leang area of Maros district in South Sulawesi.

Rescue authorities have deployed multiple teams supported by air force helicopters, drones and ground units to locate the aircraft.

Hope of finding the wreckage grew after hikers on Mount Bulusaraung reported seeing scattered debris bearing markings similar to the airline’s logo, along with small fires still burning in the area. The reports are being verified by rescue teams attempting to reach the remote location, said Maj Gen Bangun Nawoko, commander of South Sulawesi’s Hasanuddin military region.

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Officials said the aircraft disappeared shortly after air traffic controllers instructed the pilot to adjust the plane’s approach path. After the final communication, radio contact was lost and an emergency distress phase was declared.

The aircraft was carrying eight crew members and three passengers from the Ministry of Marine Affairs and Fisheries, who were on an airborne maritime surveillance mission, Minister Sakti Wahyu Trenggono confirmed.

Search efforts are being hampered by the steep terrain of Bulusaraung National Park, which spans the Maros and Pangkep districts.

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Indonesia, an archipelago nation of more than 17,000 islands, depends heavily on air travel to connect remote regions. The country has faced repeated transport accidents in recent years, often blamed on weak safety enforcement.