Jakarta (ANTARA News) - Eight of nine people who were reportedly on board the aircraft with registration number PK-HVQ and declared lost contact since August 11, 2018 at 02.17 p.m. local time in Papua Province, were found dead.

The head of the Oksibil Airport, Frits Ayomi through a written statement said on Sunday, the location of the plane was first seen by the C208B Caravan aircraft operated by Marta Buana Abadi (Dimonim Air) in the morning of August 12, 2018 at 6:15 a.m. at the coordinates 04 51.07 S 140 35.94 E at an altitude of about 6,500 feet.

He stated that of the nine people, one was found safe while eight others had died.

The joint SAR team has been evacuating the victims to Oksibil.

"The victims would be taken to Tanah Merah or Sentani," said Frits.

Previously, 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 regency.

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.

Reported by Juwita Trisna Rahayu
Edited by Bustanudin, Otniel Tamindael

Reporter: antara
Editor: Heru Purwanto
Copyright © ANTARA 2018