A passenger plane has disappeared, sparking an urgent search operation (Image: @flightradar24/X)

A passenger plane has mysteriously vanished from radar after locals reportedly heard a loud explosion, with an urgent search underway to find the missing aircraft. The ATR 42-500 turboprop, operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was flying from Yogyakarta to Makassar when contact was lost around 12 miles into the flight, according to aviation officials.

Flight tracking data shows the aircraft suddenly disappeared from radar, while residents near the last known location reported hearing a noise that “sounded like burning material” before a loud explosion. The plane was reported to be carrying 11 people in total – three passengers and eight crew members at the time it vanished. Indonesian authorities have declared an emergency and dispatched search and rescue teams to the suspected crash area, with officials confirming that three teams and around 60 personnel are now scouring mountainous terrain near the aircraft’s last known position. Officials said the last signal was received at around 11.20am local time, roughly 12 miles north-east of Yogyakarta Airport, adding that the aircraft was flying at low altitude over the ocean, which may have restricted radio contact, before it failed to arrive at Sultan Hasanuddin International Airport.

The ATR 42-500 turboprop operated by Indonesia Air Transport, was flying from Yogyakarta to Makassar (Image: Yayangari)

Footage circulating locally appears to show burning debris on a mountainside close to where the plane was last detected, although officials have stressed this has not yet been independently verified as belonging to the missing aircraft.

Aircraft manufacturer ATR has confirmed it is aware of the incident. In a statement, a spokesperson said: “ATR has been informed that an accident occurred in Indonesia involving an ATR 42-500.

“Our first thoughts are with all the individuals affected by the accident. The ATR specialists are fully engaged to support both the investigation led by the Indonesian authorities and the operator.”

Indonesian aviation authorities said the cause of the disappearance remains unclear, with search operations continuing on land and from the air as investigators work to determine what happened in the moments before contact with the aircraft was lost.

Director General of Air Transport, Lukman Laisa said: “The aircraft was identified not to be on the approach path it should have been, so the air traffic control gave a redirection to the crew to correct the position.

“Air traffic control then conveyed several further instructions. The instructions aimed to bring the plane back to the landing.

“After the submission of the last instructions, communication with the plane was lost.

“Following up on this condition, air traffic control declared an emergency phase in accordance with the applicable provisions and procedures.”

Families of those on board have been informed of the situation, as authorities said they would provide further updates once more information becomes available from the ongoing search operation.

The incident comes after a series of aviation accidents in Indonesia in recent years, with the country’s challenging geography and weather conditions often complicating flight operations and search and rescue efforts.

Search teams are continuing efforts to reach the area of the aircraft’s last known position.