Just received this press release from Airlines PNG, please remember that families of the crew and the passengers are sitting at home tonight awaiting news and speculation doesn't help their cause. Lets stick to the facts.
MEDIA RELEASE
SEARCH CONTINUES
FOR MISSING AIRCRAFT IN PNG
PORT MORESBY, PAPUA NEW GUINEA
Tuesday 11 June 2009 19:00:
Airlines of Papua New Guinea
has provided further details concerning the events
surrounding the disappearance of one of its Twin Otter turboprop aircraft and the intensive
search and rescue efforts being undertaken in the rugged Owen Stanley Ranges north of
Port Moresby in Papua New Guinea.
The aircraft - with eleven passengers and two crew members aboard - was scheduled to
arrive at Kokoda Airstrip at 11:20 a.m. after departing Port Moresby at 10:53. At its
scheduled arrival time, Airlines PNG’s Kokoda agent contacted the airline’s Operations
Centre to advise of its non-arrival. The Operations Centre made immediate contact with
Port Moresby Flight Service and were advised that the last radio contact with the aircraft
had been at 11:11 a.m.
At 11:40 a.m., Airlines PNG activated its Emergency Response Plan and a Crisis Centre
was established at its Port Moresby headquarters. Another Airlines PNG Twin Otter had
landed at Kokoda airstrip very shortly after the scheduled arrival time of the first aircraft
and was used to search for the missing aircraft as soon as possible. The airline also
diverted one of its Dash 8 aircraft to the vicinity to do likewise. Additionally the airline
immediately arranged for two Heli-Niugini helicopters to join the search and at 12:00
noon, PNG’s Civil Aviation Authority was advised of the situation and the Australian High
Commission and Japanese Embassy in Port Moresby were notified shortly thereafter.
The Australian Rescue Co-ordination Centre, which monitors emergency signals from the
aircraft’s emergency locator beacon was contacted and advised that no signal had been
received.
Airlines PNG is also co-ordinating with the local villages in the area, who have already
sent out search parties on foot, and will report back to Airlines PNG as soon as they have
any additional information.
Of the eleven passengers, there is one Papua New Guinean, a Japanese national and nine
were Australian members of a Kokoda trekking group organized through a Victorian tour
operator, with which organisation the airline has been in regular contact. The two person
crew on the aircraft were both Papua New Guineans.
Jackson’s Airport, Port Moresby
PO Box 170, Boroko, Papua New Guinea
Phone (675) 325 2011 Fax (675) 3252219
Email: apng&apng.com
2/-
The Trekking group has advised that it has notified the families of the Australians on
board. Additionally after co-ordination between Airlines PNG and the Australian High
Commission, to ensure the best resources were availed to families of the passengers , the
Australian government has been contacting the families to offer assistance.
Airlines PNG has arranged for assistance for all families in Port Moresby.
The Australian government is also arranging for additional resources to be positioned to
Port Moresby overnight to maximize the chances of a successful outcome.
The missing Twin Otter aircraft had earlier this year undergone a complete refurbishment
programme and was fitted with the some of the latest navigation aids including terrain
advice equipment. The flight crew are experienced with flying in Papua New Guinea’s
challenging conditions and very familiar with the particular route flown, having both flown
in Papua New Guinea for approximately five years on this aircraft type.
Earlier in the day, an Airlines PNG flight had operated into Kokoda under normal weather
conditions but conditions in the mountainous terrain can be subject to sudden changes.
Further assistance is now being provided in the search area by both PNG and Australian
authorities and mining companies in PNG are also providing airborne resources to assist.
Search efforts continue utilising an Australian Maritime Safety Authority aircraft that has
specifically been flown up from Australia. Airlines PNG aircraft and Heli-Nigini
helicopters will continue the search at 0530 in the morning, but are presently constrained
by nightfall and the mountainous nature of the area.
Further update bulletins will be issued by the airline as soon as additional information is
available.
***END OF RELEASE***