One of two rescue helicopters on August 17 spotted debris suspected to be from flight Trigana IL-257 that went missing around the Oksop waterfall in the eastern Indonesian province of Papua, about 11 kilometres from its destination, Oksibil district.
More detailed information on the debris is currently being verified.
Trigana Airlines flight Trigana IL-257 using plane ATR42-300, was believed to have crashed into a mountain in Oksibil district on August 16, on its way from Jayapura, the capital city of Papua, to Oksibil, a mountainous district in the province.
The plane was carrying 49 passengers – 44 adults and five children – and five crew members.
According to local residents, the plane flied at a low altitude and with a slow speed before crashing into the mountain.
The mountainous terrain has made it difficult for rescuers to reach the site. Earlier, Trigana Airlines sent a plane to search for the missing aircraft but was forced to turn back after encountering bad weather.-VNA