Boy,12, survives plane crash

A 12-year-old boy is the sole survivor of a plane crash that killed eight people in mountainous eastern Indonesia, authorities said yesterday.

The Swiss-made Pilatus aircraft lost contact with air traffic control Saturday during what was supposed to be a flight of around 40 minutes in remote Papua province.

The wreckage of the plane was found in a heavily forested area on a mountain side in the Oksibil subdistrict yesterday morning. The plane, which was owned by private charter company Dimonim Air, was carrying 7 passengers and 2 crew.

Before the accident, villagers in nearby Okatem reported hearing a loud roar followed by an explosion. Search and rescue teams walked two hours to reach the crash site. an investigation has been launched, said Papua military spokesman Lieutenant colonel Dax Sianturi.