17 Aug 2009

PNG Prime Minister says its imperative the cause of fatal Kokoda air crash is found

7:53 pm on 17 August 2009

The Papua New Guinea Prime Minister, Sir Michael Somare, who has also taken on the Transport portfolio following Don Polye's removal from Parliament after a successful electoral petition, is promising a thorough investigation into last week's fatal plane crash near Kokoda.

13 people died in the crash.

The Prime Minister gave his assurance following the recovery of the bodies at the weekend.

He says PNG needs to narrow the margins of error in its airline services so it's imperative officials find out what really happened.

Sir Michael says relatives of the crash victims also deserve some answers.

The Airline PNG plane had been carrying trekkers to the start of the renown Kokoda Track.