Sydney - Eight Australians were aboard a light plane that went missing while on a charter flight in Papua New Guinea, officials in Canberra said Tuesday. The Twin Otter left Port Moresby on Tuesday morning with 13 people aboard on the three-hour flight to Kokoda.
The twin-engine plane hadn't arrived by midday and there are grave fears for the passengers and crew. Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Airlines PNG considered the plane missing and a search was underway.
"We are, of course, concerned for all of the passengers and the crew," Smith told parliament.
The plane was flying over rugged terrain in bad weather. Its emergency beacon has not been activated and attempts to contact the pilot have failed.
The passengers aboard were believed to be tourists.
