Across Asia: Australia

Plane disappears

A charter plane carrying 13 people to a popular tourist site in Papua New Guinea vanished on approach in bad weather to an airport nestled in rugged terrain yesterday. Australia's foreign minister said a "possible crash site" may have been found.

As it was approaching the airstrip, the twin-engine plane's crew radioed air traffic controllers at an airport near the country's Kokoda Track, but the aircraft never landed, said Allen Tyson, a spokesman for Airlines PNG. The plane had 11 passengers, including nine Australians, and two crew members.