2 Aug 2009

Plane with 16 onboard missing in Indonesia

8:57 pm on 2 August 2009

A plane with 16 people on board has gone missing in Indonesia's eastern region of Papua.

The Twin Otter plane, owned by Merpati Nusantara airline, was heading to Oksibil, near the border with Papua New Guinea, from Sentani airport near Jayapura.

The trip normally takes about 50 minutes by air.

Three crew members and 13 passengers, including two babies were on board.

Indonesia has suffered a series of air disasters in recent years, affecting both its commercial and military aircraft.