A ATR 42-300 twin-turboprop plane operated by Indonesian carrier Trigana Air appears to have crashed into a mountain after going missing on August 16, said Air Transportation Director General Suprasetyo.

Speaking at a press conference in Jakarta, Suprasetyo said local residents reported the aircraft crashed into Tangok Mountain in Pengunugan Bintang.

Other transport ministry officials stated that villagers in Oksibil, the plane’s intended destination, reported seeing a plane crash.

The plane lost contact with air traffic control just before 15:00 local time (0600 GMT) after taking off from Jayapura with 54 people aboard.

Indonesia’s search and rescue agency said bad weather had delayed search and rescue efforts until early August 17.

With 17,000 islands, Indonesia’s airlines often use small-sized planes for their flights.

On August 12, another small airplane exploded during its landing at Ninia airport in Papua, killing one and injuring five.

(Source: VNA)