DHAKA: An Indonesian plane with 54 people on board is missing in Papua region, officials have said.

Contact was lost with the Trigana Air ATR 42 turboprop just before 15:00 local time (06:00 GMT) after take-off from Sentani airport in the regional capital Jayapura.

The plane was en route to the town of Oksibil in the south of the region.

It is carrying 44 adult passengers, five children and infants, and five crew.

Transport Ministry spokesman JA Barata confirmed the disappearance, media reported, says the BBC.

‘We are not sure what happened to the plane yet and we are co-ordinating with local authorities,’ he told the media.

‘The weather is currently very bad there, it’s very dark and cloudy. It’s not conducive for a search. The area is mountainous.’

BDST: 1608 HRS, AUG 16, 2015
RR