JAKARTA: A Bell 205 helicopter belonging to the Indonesian Military (TNI) carrying five servicemen went missing in Papua on Saturday morning and is feared to have crashed shortly after takeoff at 10:10 a.m.

The helicopter took off from Timika and was on its way to Eranotali, the capital of Paniai regency. Twenty-five minutes after takeoff the air traffic control in Timika reported it had lost contact with the helicopter.

Another aircraft sent to Eranotali confirmed that the helicopter had not arrived and increased fears that it had crashed.

The helicopter was carrying two officers and two non- commissioned officers, Antara said.

The news agency said a search would be mounted on Sunday (today) for the missing aircraft.