Plane carrying 11 found in forest in Cameroon after losing radio contact

By Aurore Bonny

DOUALA, Cameroon (AA) - A plane carrying 11 passengers that had gone missing shortly after takeoff has been found in a forest in central Cameroon, the Ministry of Transport said Wednesday.

The aircraft was flying from Yaounde-Nsimalen airport to Belabo in the east of the country when air traffic services lost radio contact.

"The air traffic services have lost radio contact with an aircraft flying from Yaounde-Nsimalen-Dompta-Belabo-Yaounde-Nsimalen on Wednesday, May 11, 2022," with 11 people on board, said Transport Minister Jean Ernest Massena Ngalle Bibehe.

Following an air and ground search, the aircraft was found in a forest not far from Nanga Eboko, around 150 kilometers (93 miles) northeast of the capital Yaounde.

He did not give details on the victims but indicated that ground resources are being sent to the rescue.

Bibehe also invited the population to "assist the authorities in conducting rescue operations for the occupants of the aircraft," which was chartered by the Cameroon Oil Transportation Company (COTCO).

For now, the company, which was contacted by Anadolu Agency, has confirmed the disappearance of the plane without confirming a crash.​​​​​​​

"The plane has been reported missing. We cannot yet say that it is a crash. When a plane disappears, it is the first theory, but we have no confirmation on that yet," it said.