JAKARTA, July 5 (Xinhua) -- A small plane carrying five people went down in Papua province of eastern Indonesia on Wednesday, and rescue operation has been undertaken, spokesman of national search and rescue office Marsudi said.

The Pilatus Porter PC-6 aircraft made the last contact with the aviation authorities at 11:08 a.m. local time after departing from Wamena town, the spokesman said.

At 15:21 search for the missing plane was conducted for the second time after the failure in communication, said Marsudi.

"A plane searching for the missing aircraft received a signal, it continues until now. The wreckage of the plane was seen at 8,500 feet, and it was about 8 nautical miles from Wamena," he told Xinhua by phone.

The five people on board were a pilot, a co-pilot and three passengers, said Marsudi. The plane was on route of Wamena to Derakma in the province, he added.

The plane was operated by Associated Mission Aviation (AMA), a private firm operating flights in and around Papua province.

Papua has some poor geographical region which has often hampered flight in the area which heavily relies on air transport.