7 Jul 2017

Five people dead after small plane crash in West Papua

2:15 pm on 7 July 2017

Five people are dead, including a Dutch pilot, after a small plane crashed in a mountainous area in West Papua.

Coroner Ian Smith has highlighted a lack of regulation at small aerodromes in New Zealand.

Coroner Ian Smith has highlighted a lack of regulation at small aerodromes in New Zealand. Photo: AFP

Sky News reports that the PC-6 Porter plane owned by PT Associated Mission Aviation lost contact with air-traffic control eight minutes after it took off from Wamena in the highlands.

The plane was carrying three passengers, a co-pilot and a pilot.

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