11 feared dead in plane crash in Papua
Markus Makur, The Jakarta Post, Timika, Papua | Fri, 04/17/2009 1:33 PM
The pilot, co-pilot and 9 passengers of a Mimika Air plane are feared dead in a crash in the Mount Gergaji area in Mimika, Papua on Friday.
Easter Haryanto, commander of Timika Air Base, said that the aircraft had left Ilaga at around 10 a.m. local time and had been expected to arrive in the remote village of Mulia, a 30-minute flight away.
The airplane, however, lost contact with the ground during the flight. The plane crash was confirmed around noon.
Easter said a joint operation between the police and the Air Force would start searching for the ill-fated plane on Saturday because of bad weather in the mountainous area on Friday.
The plane was carrying ballots from last week's general elections to the remote village of Mulya when it crashed.
The plane, belonging to the Mimika district administration, was piloted by Nay May Linn Aung of Myanmar with Makmur of Indonesia as co-pilot.
Among the names listed as passengers were Marthen Jitmau (secretary of the Puncak Jaya General Elections Commission), Rev. Melkias Kiwak, Herman Snanfi (chairman of the Puncak Jaya general elections supervisory board), Willem Mayau, Lasarus Wonda, Ruben Murib, Temina Murib and two unidentified children.
Papua is considered one of the world's most dangerous places to fly. Many areas are mountainous and prone to dangerously low clouds and sudden weather changes. (dre)
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