An Air Niugini 737-800 aircraft crash landed into the waters near to the island of Weno, north-west of Papua New Guinea, around 9.30am Friday local time. The aircraft, which was on route to Papua New Guinea from Mirconesia, missed the runway and crashed into the water off. All 35 passengers and 12 crew members have been rescued from the aircraft by locals who approached the aircraft as soon as it landed in the water. There are a few reports of wounded passengers, some with broken bones. Eight people remain in hospital, reports The Guam Daily Post. One is on a ventilator and others suffering fractures.
Chuuk Airport manager Jimmy Emilio told local media outlets the Air Niugini plane missed the runway by about 160 metres.
In a statement Air Niugini said they have been told “the weather was very poor with heavy rain and reduced visibility at the time of incident”.
Papua New Guinea Accident Investigation Commission are preparing a team to investigate the site of the accident.