Air Transport

Indonesian rescue personnel are searching for a Merpati Nusantara turboprop aircraft reportedly missing on a domestic flight over the Papua region.

The de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Otter aircraft is said to have been operating flight 9760D between Jayapura, on the northern Papua coast, and Oksibil in the mountainous centre of the island.

Thirteen passengers and three crew members are reportedly on board the twin-engined aircraft.

Local media indicate that the internal flight took off at 10:15 and was due to arrive at 11:05, but that the aircraft lost contact at 10:28.

Flight's ACAS database lists the carrier as owning nine DHC-6s. Unconfirmed information indicates that the aircraft is a 30-year old airframe, serial number 626, registered PK-NVC.

Indonesian airlines, including Merpati Nusantara, remain largely blacklisted by the European Commission despite the lifting of restrictions on four carriers last month.