Third search and rescue underway to locate survivors

The search and rescue team for the North Coast Aviation's plane crash survivors left at about 7:10am. this morning for the third attempt to locate survivors.

According to North Coast Aviation's operations manager, Jordan Thiele, who was part of yesterday's last rescue attempt, the team couldn't locate the exact location of the crash site in order to be winched down due to the thickness of the cloud cover on the mountains descending into the dense forest.

Mr Thiele told NBC News they had to circle above for more than 30 minutes before regretfully making the decision to return to Lae before dark yesterday.

Chief executive officer of Manolos Aviation, captain Jurgen Ruh, also told NBC News that his medical staff, who are part of the search and rescue team today, went through winch training upon their return yesterday.

Ruh said it was important for his medical team to go through this training as they will be heavily relied on to save lives if they successfully locate survivors today.

This is the third time the rescue team has been deployed since the incident on Saturday.