Indonesian Plane with 54 on board crashes into a mountain

An Indonesian aircraft carrying 54 passengers and crew has gone missing. The airplane is said to have crashed in the remote and mountainous region of Papua on Sunday.

The plane, carrying 44 adults, five children and infants, and five crew, took off from Sentani airport at 2:22 P.m. and was scheduled to land at Oksibil airport at 3:05 P.m.

The 27 years old aircraft is said to have lost contact with air traffic control as it flew over the forested region of eastern Indonesia, 10 minutes before it was due to land.

Local villagers said they had seen a plane flying low before crashing into a mountain.

Search and rescue efforts begun immediately but had to be suspended due to bad weather.

"A search was launched earlier today, but was called off because of bad weather, and it's also now dark there," Barata said

Rescue team will resume their aerial search early Monday morning.