An Indonesian airliner carrying 54 people has lost contact over the country's easternmost province of Papua, an official said today.

Transportation Ministry spokesman Julius Barata said a plane belonging to Trigana Air Service lost contact this afternoon while flying from Papua's provincial capital, Jayapura, to the Papua city of Oksibil.

He said the ATR42-300 twin turboprop plane was carrying 49 passengers and five crew members.

He said the plane lost contact 33 minutes after taking off.