The Pilatus Porter PC-6 aircraft lost contact ona short flight from Wamena, the capital of the mountainous district ofJayawijaya, to Derakma in neighbouring Nduga district.
The plane was operated by Associated MissionAviation, 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 manyareas in the mountainous and jungle-clad easternmost provinces of Papua andWest Papua, but flight security remained poor. A number of flight accidents have occurred inthe Southeast Asia country in recent years.-VNA