An Indonesian domestic passenger aircraft carrying 54 people lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday in the remote eastern Papua region, the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) said. The Trigana Air ATR 42 turboprop plane failed to arrive at its destination of Oksibil as scheduled after contact was lost with the plane.
According to the agency’s official Twitter account, the domestic aircraft belonging to Trigana Air Service was carrying 44 adult passengers, five crew and five children and infants.
The plane took off from Sentani airport in the region’s capital Jayapura on a flight to Oksibil, located south of the city. But it is reported to have lost contact just before 3.00pm (6.00am GMT).