Twenty-eight people were killed and four others survived when their plane crashed into the remote forests of Papua New Guinea, Australian officials said on October 14.   

The survivors of the crash include an Australian pilot and a New Zealand pilot, Australia's Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade said in a statement.

The Airlines PNG Dash 8 aircraft crashed while flying from Lae to the resort hub of Madang on the South Pacific island nation's north coast, Papua New Guinea's Accident Investigation Commission spokesman Sid O'Toole said.

The twin-propellor plane crashed 12 miles (20 kilometers) south of Madang, he said.

Australian consular officials were also planning to travel to Madang on October 14.

Australian Broadcasting Corp. television cited Madang residents as saying there was a violent storm in the area at the time of the crash.

In a statement, Airlines PNG said a full investigation was under way into the cause of the accident. The airline said it has temporarily grounded its fleet of 12 Dash 8 aircraft.

AP/VOV