A RESCUE chopper has found the wreckage of a charter plane that went missing on route to the
Kokoda Track with 13 people on board,
Papua New Guinea authorities say.
Papua New Guinea Civil
Aviation Authority head
Joseph Kintau told
ABC Radio he had just left a briefing where he learned the news.
”They've located the wreckage,” he said.
”
I don't have any specific details at this point in time but I have just been told it has been located.”
Seven Victorian adventurers and two from Queensland were among the 13 people on a small twin-engine plane that was on a short trip from
Port Moresby to the Kokoda Track.
There are grave fears for all on board.
The search for the plane resumed at first light this morning.
Airlines PNG said a light plane took off at daybreak as poor weather conditions in the Kokoda region cleared.
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Eight of the missing Aussies were part of the Melbourne-based No Roads Expedition tour group – a company run by firefighters and paramedics that organises trekking tours – and another was an Australian tour guide.
Bendigo father-of-two Peter Holliday, 28, is one of the missing but his wife Shonia last night was hopeful he would be found safe.
"It's just bad luck. Heaps of people go travelling,'' she said. "I'm holding on to hope that he will be fine.''
Two Australian Blackhawk helicopters from Sydney today will join the search, which has begun in the
Owen Stanley Ranges north of Port Moresby.
HMAS Success, with a Sea King helicopter on board, also has been diverted from near Torres Strait and was expected to arrive off the PNG coast at dawn.
A Caribou plane stationed at Port Moresby was being made available. A RAAF Hercules was also being loaded with medical facilities and a fully-equipped ground party.
Up to 6000 Australians tackle the 96km Kokoda challenge each year, retracing the steps of World War II Diggers and paying homage to those who died repelling invading Japanese forces.
Foreign
Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said search-and-rescue efforts by PNG authorities had been hampered by bad weather, low visibility and very rugged terrain along the Kokoda Track.
"This of course is an agonising time for these families," he said.
Prime Minister Kevin Rudd, Defence Minister John Faulkner and Australian Defence Force chief Angus Houston met to discuss help for the search effort.
Soon afterwards Mr Rudd spoke with his PNG counterpart Sir Michael Somare, who accepted Australia's offer of help.
All the families of the missing people have been contacted by the Department of Foreign Affairs.
The
Twin Otter plane, carrying 11 passengers and two crew, left Port Moresby at 9.30am but failed to return in the afternoon.
Bad weather conditions and low cloud cover has authorities and search parties concerned the plane may have crashed into a mountain.
PNG's emergency response centre in Port Moresby is co-ordinating the search.
Joseph Kintau, director of PNG's Civil Aviation Authority, said the search would resume at first light today.
He said the
Australian Government was providing help, including a plane from Cairns with infra-red detection equipment.
In a statement released last night, No Roads Expeditions confirmed eight of its trekkers and a tour guide had failed to arrive at
Kokoda Airstrip after departing Port Moresby at 10.53am.
"The airline advises that there are 11 passengers and two crew members aboard the missing plane," it said.
"These passengers include a
tour group of eight Australians on their way to walk the Kokoda Track, as well as an Australian tour guide, and one tour guide from Papua New Guinea."
There was also a Japanese tourist on board.
"The Australians were travelling as part of a tour organised by No Roads Expeditions. No Roads Expeditions has notified the families of the Australians involved, and is working closely with Airlines of Papua New Guinea as the search for the aircraft continues."
Ori Kennia, the former Mayor of Kokoda Station, said concerns started to mount after 12.30pm when a call was made from Port Moresby asking whether a plane had arrived.
A twin-engine plane and helicopter were available for searching but that effort was being severely hampered by poor weather, he said.
Visibility was very low and the mountains were covered in thick fog, he said.
Mr Kennia said it was possible the plane had gone via Mt Victoria to avoid other air traffic in the area.
"It's very difficult. The chances are very slim," Mr Kennia said.
Walking the Kokoda Track is a popular rite of passage for many Australians, including Mr Rudd, who walked it with political rival Joe Hockey in recent years.
But it can be a dangerous adventure. Four Australian trekkers have perished on the track since 2001.
Another danger is aviation standards in PNG.
There are questions surrounding the investigation of 19 air crashes since 2000 that have killed 16 people, including three Australians and three New Zealanders.
People concerned about the welfare of family or friends are advised to contact DFAT's consular emergency centre on 02 6261 3305.
