Papua New Guinea Plane Crash Leaves 12 Dead
KABUL: (MEP) At least 12 people including an Australian pilot have been killed when a light plane crashed into a swamp while landing at an airport in Papua New Guinea, authorities confirmed on Thursday.
According to the PNG Broadcasting Corporation, the aircraft was flying in the rugged west of the Pacific nation on Wednesday afternoon when its engine failed mid-air, sending it into a nose-dive.
The plane collapsed in Kiunga airport runway, killing all passengers and the Australian pilot.
The broadcaster said three children were among those killed while Australian media said the Australian on board was the pilot. The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed one of its nationals was on the Sunbird Aviation flight and that it crashed on approach to Kiunga.
Local media reports said the aircraft, operated by Sunbird Aviation, experienced engine failure before the crash.
They said that nine people died at the scene and three were taken to hospital where they died.
