2 Nov 2016

Wreckage of missing aircraft found in Papua

8:24 am on 2 November 2016

The cargo aircraft missing since Monday in Indonesia's Papua region has been found completely shattered in mountainous region.

Antara reports that the DHC4 PK-SWW was located almost 13-thousand feet above sea level in the Puncak Jaya area between Jila and Ilaga.

The fate of the four people on board remains unclear.

The 45-year old Canadian-made aircraft crashed on its way from Timika to Ilaga on Monday with cargo of just over three tonnes of building materials.

The Timika Search and Rescue Agency confirmed the discovery of the wreck but could not locate any crewmen, indicating there is slim hope they had survived.

The accident is the latest in a recent string of Indonesian air safety mishaps in Papua's mountainous interior.

The Puncak Jaya mountains in Indonesia's Papua region

The Puncak Jaya mountains in Indonesia's Papua region Photo: AFP

An Air Asia One cessna skidded off a runway in the same area of Puncak Jaya last month.

In September, a Trigana Air plane touching down at Wamena in the Highlands slammed into the runway and lost its landing gear.

In June, a Cessna smashed into several houses near another Highlands airport, at Yahukimo.

In August 2015, a Trigana aircraft crashed in bad weather near Oksibil, killing twelve.