17 April,2009 01:29 PM IST | | Agencies
An aircraft crashed in eastern province of Papua on Friday, killing at least 10 people on board, according to an Indonesian Transportation Ministry official.
Papua police spokesperson Nurhabri said search for the ill-fated plane was underway.
Quoting the police spokesperson, Detik.com reported that the wreckage could possibly be located in Mount Sinap since the police detected the aircraft's radio transmitter signal from that area.
The plane belongs to Mimika Regency Administration. The aircraft departed from Ilaga regency at 10:15 am, and was expected to arrive at Mulia 30 minutes later.
Transportation ministry spokesperson Bambang S Ervan said 10 people were on board.
Among the passengers were top officials of Papua regional General Election Commission. All the passengers were feared dead.
On April 9 this year, six people were killed when a cargo plane carrying food supplies crashed in poor weather after aborting an attempt to land in Papua.
In January 2008, an Aviastar Twin Otter crashed in Paniai district, Papua, after it skidded off the runway of Sugapa airport, killing one of its 15 passengers.
In 2006, a Trigana plane with nine passengers on board crashed near Mount Gergaji, Papua.
In February 2005, 14 people died after a Cassa 212 plane belonging to the National Police went down in Mararena river in Jayapura in Papua province.
