Missing Merpati plane located
The Jakarta Post, Jakarta | Tue, 08/04/2009 8:19 AM
A search flight dispatched over Abmisibil in Pengunungan Bintang regency, Papua, has reported having spotted a missing Merpati Airlines Twin Otter plane in the area.
The regency police chief Adj. Sr. Comr. Maikel informed Antara news agency that Erich and Mak, pilot and co-pilot of an Association of Missionairy Aviation (AMA) plane, located the missing plane at around 6.35 a.m. (4.35 a.m. Jakarta time).
Amisibil is located three miles off Oksibil, the regency's capital.
The Twin Otter plane, which was carrying 16 people on board, first went missing on Sunday when the plane lost contact with the monitoring officials on the ground. It was flying between the Papuan capital of Jayapura and Oksibil.
Merpati said pilot Frans Noble and co-pilot Dedi Sudrahat, a mechanic, 11 adult passengers and two babies were onboard the plane. (dre)
