Tributes for Aussies killed in PNG air crash

Pilot Les Wright, 56, was one of three Australians killed after a chartered plane slid off a wet runway on Misima Island and burst into flames yesterday afternoon, an aviation industry source told AAP.

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It is not known whether Mr Wright, who was licensed to fly in Papau New Guinea, was flying the plane.

"Les Wright from Trans Air was on board and died," the source said.

Tributes for Mr Wright have also been posted on Facebook.

Sydney man Chris Hart, 61, who worked for Australian Reef Pilots, was also killed.

The Trans Air plane, owned and operated by Mr Wright, is believed to have been chartered by International SOS, a medivac company.

A International SOS employee is also believed to have died. Calls for comment to the company have not been returned.

"It is with deep regret that I advise Trans Air has confirmed that four of those on board, including three Australians and one New Zealand citizen, have died," Foreign Affairs Minister Stephen Smith said last night.

The National newspaper in Papua New Guinea said police had not ruled out a technical fault causing the crash after witnesses reported seeing flames coming from the plane as it attempted to land.

Mr Wright previously led the Australian operations of similarly named company Transair.

Transair came under close scrutiny after one of its planes crashed into the Lockhart River in north Queensland, killing all 15 people in 2005.

In 2007, Queensland coroner Michael Barnes blamed pilot Brett Hotchin and the airline for the disaster.

Mr Barnes was critical of Transair and Mr Wright, the company's chief pilot, for failing to monitor the airline's pilots adequately and to ensure they were complying with company and CASA policies.

Mr Wright, who moved to Papau New Guinea after the crash, was "stretched too far" working as Transair's chief pilot, chief executive and a working line pilot, Mr Barnes said.

The PNG Practical Shooting Association posted a Facebook tribute to Mr Wright a short time ago.

"I am sad to bring the bad news that Les Wright was one of the people that died in the crash. The co-pilot was the only survivor. Les was only 56 years old but a strong and keen supporter of PNGPSA. Our condolences and prayers goes to his son, Gerard and partner, Lisa in this sad time."

Australian Reef Pilots chairman Don McLay released a statement this afternoon on behalf of the company and Mr Hart's family.

"Chris was the supreme professional at his job, a mentor for younger pilots and a qualified Check and Training Pilot. He commenced Naval College in the UK at age 13 and became a submariner with the British Navy before joining P & O where he met his future wife Hilary who was travelling on SS Himalaya where Chris was Junior Navigator," the statement said.

"After a secondment to the Maritime Services Board in Sydney, Chris joined Howard Smith and returned to sea in their merchant shipping division. He became a Coastal Pilot with Australian Reef Pilots in 1997.

"As an ARP Coastal Pilot, Chris guided ships through the three compulsory pilotage areas in the Great Barrier Reef: Hydrographers Passage, inner route from Cairns to Thursday Island and the Great Northeast Channel in Torres Strait.

"He saw coastal pilots as guardians of the Reef and was working with ARP to develop better ways of identifying high risk vessels entering Australian Waters.

"He is survived by his wife Hilary and three adult children - two daughters and a son. Chris took great pride in his children and while his duties meant he was frequently away from home he made sure he always had quality time with them.

"We have lost a respected friend and colleague. We will always remember Chris’s quirky sense of humour, his passion as a chef and his insatiable love for country and western music."

- with AAP