Paupau New Guinea plane crash kills 12, including Australian

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Paupau New Guinea Plane Crash Kills 12, Including Australian National – www.plnmedia.com

Twelve people, including one Australian, are dead after a light aircraft crashed just short of a remote runway in Papua New Guinea.

The aircraft was flying in the rugged western province on Wednesday afternoon when its engine failed in mid-air, sending the aircraft into a heavy nose dive.

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Officials at the scene said the plane crashed into a swamp near the Kiunga airstrip.

News from the area said three children were on-board, while Australian media noted that the pilot was an Australian.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs confirmed that one of its nationals was on-board the Sunbird Aviation flight, and that it had crashed on approach to Kiunga.

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Police and local media noted the airplane was arriving from Oksapmin and that it crashed just before landing – all passengers and the pilot were killed on impact.

The Australian Department of Foreign Affairs gave this statement:

“We continue to work closely with Papua New Guinea authorities,” a department spokesman told AFP, without confirming whether or not he was the pilot.

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“Our thoughts are with the passengers and crew of the aircraft and their families. Due to privacy obligations, we are unable to provide further information.”

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