Australian among dead in PNG crash An Australian pilot was among 12 people killed when a light plane crashed into a swamp while landing at an airport in Papua New Guinea, authorities have confirmed. 
Friends are paying tribute to former Sydney man Benjamin Picard, 31 (pictured), who was flying the plane when it crashed about one kilometre short of the runway at Kiunga in PNG's Western Province on Wednesday afternoon.
"Such devastating news Benj.
You will be greatly missed," one friend, Matt Smith, wrote on Facebook.
"One of the world's biggest gentlemen, such a kind caring soul, always putting others before himself. A friend of so many people from so many different parts of the world. RIP you bloody legend."
The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade confirmed an Australian man was among those killed when the Britten Norman- Islander plane crashed about 3pm ( local time). The man's family had been provided with consular assistance, a DFAT spokesman said. Local media reports said the aircraft, operated by Sunbird Aviation, experienced engine failure before the crash. Nine people died at the scene and three were taken to hospital where they later died.