Rescue team reaches plane wreckage

An eight-strong search and rescue team reached on Thursday morning the wreckage of a police plane that crashed in the mountainous area of Puncak Jaya in Papua on Monday, Antara reported.

Suyatno, chief of the Jayapura Search and Rescue Agency, said the rescue workers were preparing evacuation of four air crew members who were aboard the Skytruck plane when the accident took place.

“The team is preparing an evacuation at the site of accident. Their helicopter will arrive to pick up them and the victims later in the day for a flight to Sentani,” Suyatno said, adding that the evacuation would depend on the weather.

Thick fog had foiled the team's efforts to evacuate the victims on Wednesday.

The Polish-made aircraft was carrying diesel fuel when it lost contact with the Sentani Airport tower on its way to Mulia Airport in Puncak Jaya on Monday.