Air Transport

An Airlines of Papua New Guinea (PNG) de Havilland Canada DHC-6 Twin Ottertravelling from Port Moresby to the Kokoda airstrip has failed to arrive at its destination and an intensive search effort is now underway.

The turboprop departed Port Moresby at 10:53 carrying 11 passengers and two crew, says Airlines of PNG, adding that the last communication from the missing aircraft was received on approach to Kokoda. A search mission commenced in the rugged Kokoda mountains after it failed to land, it says. No signal has been received from the aircraft's emergency locator beacon, it adds.

Airlines of PNG in Port Moresby is coordinating the search for the missing aircraft, says the airline, and that the DHC-6-300's registration is P2-MCB. According to Flight's ACAS database, Airlines of PNG operates five DHC-6 Twin Otter series 300 aircraft and one Twin Otter series 200.

The Kokoda trail saw intense fighting between Australian and Japanese forces during the second world war. Today it is a popular destination for Australians.