History for airline in Kiwi-linked PNG fatal crash

Bwagaoia, Papua New Guinea

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A plane that crashed in remote Papua New Guinea, killing one New Zealander and injuring another, was flown by a company with links to a defunct airline criticised over a 2005 crash in which 15 people were killed.

One New Zealander and three Australians, including the plane's pilot, were killed when the chartered Trans Air plane slid off a wet runway and burst into flames yesterday afternoon in Misima, in Milne Bay Province on PNG's southern tip.

The plane's New Zealand co-pilot, the only survivor, was in a local hospital.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said the co-pilot, an Australian permanent resident, received heavy bruising but was conscious and able to talk.

A government official in Port Moresby said they wanted to get the survivor to a major centre as soon as possible.

Misima police Chief Sergeant Moses Hilibobo said last night the survivor was thrown clear when the plane crashed.

"According to eyewitnesses, the plane landed, couldn't brake and crashed into palm trees. It was a small twin-engined jet," he told The Australian newspaper.

"Four people were killed - actually they were burnt in the flames when it (the plane) crashed on landing."

Trans Air owner Les Wright is believed to be one of the three Australians killed in the crash.

Mr Wright is linked to the now defunct Australian airline Transair, which went into liquidation after a 2005 crash at Lockhart River in north Queensland in which 15 people died.

He was the company's chief pilot, chief executive, and a working line pilot at the time.

In August 2007 Queensland coroner Michael Barnes was critical of Transair and Mr Wright for failing to adequately monitor the airline's pilots and ensure they were complying with company and civil aviation policies.

Mr Barnes found pilot Brett Hotchin and Transair were to blame for the Lockhart disaster.

He also found Mr Wright, who moved to PNG after the crash, was "stretched too far" in his three roles for the company.

Also killed in yesterday's crash was 61-year-old marine pilot Chris Hart, of Sydney.

New Zealand's High Commissioner Marion Crawshaw and Australian officials from the High Commission in Port Moresby flew early this morning to the remote crash site.

New Zealand's Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Trade said it was seeking further information.

In August last year 13 people were killed in a PNG plane crash, including nine Australian Kokoda Track trekkers.

PNG's rugged landscape and unpredictable weather makes for incredibly tough flying conditions but a lack of institutional support for aviation safety has also plagued the industry.

- NZPA