Indonesia plane carrying 54 people goes missing

An Indonesian domestic flight carrying 54 passengers and crew has gone missing. The plane, said to be about 27 years old, lost contact with air traffic control in Papua province around 2.55pm local time.

The Trigana Air Service flight carrying 44 adult passengers, five children and five crew members, left Sentani Airport at 2:22 p.m. and was supposed to land at Oksibil airport at about 3:05 p.m but disappeared 10 minutes before it was due to land. Indonesia Transport ministry said no distress call was made from the plane.

Search and rescue have begun though it has since been called off because of bad weather. Search for the plane, believed to have crashed in the steep mountains, will continue tomorrow.