Merpati Denies its Plane Missing in Papua

JAYAPURA - Merpati Nusantara Airlines (MNA) denied an allegation on Monday that its Twin Otter plane was missing while on its flight from Jayapura to Oksibil in Indonesia`s easternmost province of Papua the day before.

"It is just a rumor," Merpati General Manager for Papua David said.

Merpati did not serve a Jayapura-Oksibil route, he said adding only Trigana and Pelita Air served the route.

A report had it that a Merpati Twin Otter plane carrying 13 people including two infants lost contact with the control tower on Sunday

The report said the fate of all people aboard the plane was still unknown. [Antara]