Jayapura, Papua (ANTARA News) - A Pilatus Porter aircraft, with flight code PK-HVQ, reportedly lost contact on Saturday afternoon (Aug 11) during a flight from Tanah Merah to Oksibil area in Pegunungan Bintang district, Papua Province.

Chief of Pegunungan Bintang Police precinct, Adjunct Senior Coms Michael, told Antara that the plane, with seven passengers on board, took off from Tanah Merah at around 01:42 p.m. Eastern Indonesia Standard time (WIT).

The aircraft, belonging to Dimonim Air, was piloted by Leslie Sevuve, with co pilot Wayan Sugiarta.

The PAC 75 type aircraft should have arrived in Oksibil at around 2:20 p.m., but its whereabouts are still unknown, Michael remarked.

"The flight from the Tanah Merah to Oksibil is around 45 minutes," Michael disclosed.

The names of passengers of the ill-fated Pilatus plane are Sudir Zakana, Martina Uropmabin, Hendrikus Kamiw, Lidia Kamiw, Jamaludin, Naimus, and Jumaidi.

Reporting by Evarukdijati
Editing by Bustanuddin