Cloud cover and terrain holds back search team

The Police and PNG Defence Force tactical response search and rescue teams, who left at about 5:30am. this morning, had to return yet again due to the thick cloud cover over the crash site.

The Deputy Prime Minister John Rosso told NBC News that the rugged mountainous terrain of the Sarawaget range where the P2-Sam plane crashed was also tough to conquer the search mission.

Rosso said winching the SAR team down the incident area was the only means, but the weather condition this morning delayed their recovery efforts.

The Lae MP said the terrain was too steep and uninhabitable for the SAR team to access by tracking, to which even the locals cannot access.

The tactical response search teams are all stationed at the Sapmanga airstrip at the moment while gathering helpful information from the locals.

Meantime, the search and rescue operations coordination has been moved to Nadzab and the Morobe Provincial Disaster office in Lae.

The Deputy Prime Minister said despite the weather obstacle, the operation to recover the other four bodies will go on.

The Police and PNGDF tactical recovery teams are closely monitoring the situation for clearance.

Pilot of the North Coast Aviation P2-Sam aircraft, late David Sandery's body was retrieved and taken to Lae, whilst bodies of the four passengers are yet to be recovered from the crash site.

NBC News understands that a press conference will be held later this afternoon to further clarify information regarding the status of this search and rescue operations.