A charter plane with 15 people heading to the Kokoda Track in Papua New Guinea was missing on Tuesday after failing to return to its destination in Port Moresby, the capital of Papua New Guinea.

Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said Airlines PNG had informed the relevant authorities that the plane had failed to arrive and was considered as missing and a search for the missing plane was underway.

"We are, of course, concerned for all of the passengers and the crew," he told the parliament.

"Given the destination, our fear and concern, of course, is that Australians may have been on board."

The twin engine plane left Port Moresby on Tuesday morning at 9: 30 a.m. local time but had failed to return as planned in the afternoon.

The 15 people on board included eight Australians, five local porters and two crew, the Australian Associated Press reported from Port Moresby.

The plane was transporting the Kokoda Track trekkers as part of an Adventure Kokoda tour group.

(Xinhua News Agency August 11, 2009)