Hanoi (VNA) – A small plane with five people on board went missing in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua, local officials said on July 5.

The Pilatus Porter PC-6 aircraft lost contact on a short flight from Wamena, the capital of the mountainous district of Jayawijaya, to Derakma in neighbouring Nduga district.

The plane was operated by Associated Mission Aviation, a private firm launching flights in the area which heavily relies on air transport. Rescue operations are underway.

Flying is the only practical way of accessing many areas in the mountainous and jungle-clad easternmost provinces of Papua and West Papua, but flight security remained poor. A number of flight accidents have occurred in the Southeast Asia country in recent years.-VNA
VNA