An Australian pilot is among 12 dead after a light plane crashed as it tried to land in Papua New Guinea’s Western Province, the Australian Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) said.

The Sunbird Aviation plane ploughed into a swamp just short of the airport runway at Kiunga in central PNG on Wednesday afternoon (AEST).

Kiunga police said three people were taken from the wreckage to Kiunga hospital, but were pronounced dead on arrival.

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“Yesterday we encountered a tragedy, a plane crash,” Kiunga’s police commander Joe Puri said.

“A small plane that arrived from Oksapmin just before landing crashed into the swamp, with all the passengers, including the pilot, dead.”

A spokesperson for the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade (DFAT) told The New Daily it was working with the family of the Australian pilot.

“Our thoughts are with the passengers and crew of the aircraft and their families.” a DFAT spokesperson said.