Professional rescue team already out in search of survivors of plane crash

A rescue team has already set out at 20 minutes to 2 this afternoon for the North Coast Aviation plane crash site, between Sapmanga and Yalumet still in the Tewai Siassi district of Morobe Province.

Part of the team had four officials which includes the helicopter pilot and the loadmaster, flying in all the way from Port Moresby and picking up another four which included the North Coast Aviation's Operations Manager Jordan Thiele, two medical officers and a PNGDF soldier from the Igam Barracks Engineering Battalion at the Manolos Aviation helipad.

NBC News witnessed first hand the helicopter came fully kitted with equipment, that will be used in the attempts to get down and find out if there are any survivors.

The Manolos Aviation's Chief Executive Officer, Captain Jurgen Ruh who piloted the first flight out as early as 5:30am with the Deputy Prime Minister and member for Lae, John Rosso on board, told NBC News that the crash site looks bad from their inspection this morning.

As a result of the thick jungle and mountainous terrain where the plane had crashed into, is proof enough that the task at hand for the rescue team will be a difficult one.

Present to see the rescue team off is the Deputy Prime Minister and Member for Lae John Rosso, the PNG Defence Force Lae Commander Min Kobi.

NBC also reached out to locals on the ground who confirmed, that upon hearing the news, they too have a search party out on foot but are yet to access the crash site, due to the thickness of the jungle.