A missing plane was found in a forest as authorities searched for survivors in Papua New Guinea.

Officials said the Britten Norman B2 Islander P2-SAM, owned by North Coast Aviation, was carrying two government officials and a police officer when it lost contact with air traffic services over Morobe province on Sunday, December 22.

Footage shows the aircraft wreckage lying among trees the next day, with no passengers found at the site. The team located the plane on the second attempt despite poor weather conditions significantly challenging the operation.

State aviation agency NiuSky Pacific Limited confirmed a search was launched after a distress signal from the plane was received.

NiuSky Pacific added: 'Early this morning, the search operations resumed and the crash site was located. Manalos Aviation, together with the PNGDF and the Morobe Provincial Disaster Office, are in the process of planning and preparing a rescue team to be dispatched to the crash site.

'We extend our deepest concern for the passengers and crew on board P2-SAM and assure the public that every effort is being made to rescue any survivors. The RCC remains operational and is closely monitoring the situation.'

Authorities said the P2-SAM aircraft had left Wasu Airstrip on Sunday and was en route to Lae Nadzab Tomodachi International Airport when it went missing.