Asia-Pacific

Plane carrying 12 people missing in Indonesia

(Xinhua)
Updated: 2006-11-17 15:07

JAKARTA - A chartered plane with 12 people onboard went missing in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua Friday.

The Twin Otter plane belonging to Trigana Air Service lost contact with the airport when making a short trip in the mountainous regency of Puncak Jaya.

The local airport lost contact with the plane 15 minutes after it departed from Mulia, the capital of Puncak Jaya, at 08:00 local time, Papua police spokesman Kartono was quoted by the Detikcom news website as saying.

A helicopter has been combing the area to search the plane, he said.

Kartono said the plane was chartered by the Puncak Jaya government, carrying nine passengers and three crews.