Contact: Palmer Holt, 704-663-3303, Pholt@MAF.org

NAMPA, Idaho, Aug. 11 /Christian Newswire/ -- The light plane that crashed Saturday in Indonesia's easternmost province of Papua did not belong to Mission Aviation Fellowship (MAF).

MAF made the announcement today in the wake of numerous calls it has received on the matter.

The pilot of the Pilatus Porter PC-6 airplane, which belonged to Associated Mission Aviation, was killed. No passengers were on board.

"We grieve with and ask for prayers for the pilot's family and the Associated Mission Aviation family," said John Boyd, president of MAF. "This was truly a terrible accident that has befallen our brother in Christ."

The phone number for Associated Mission Aviation in Indonesia is +62 967 591009.

Founded in 1945, MAF missionary teams of aviation, communications, technology and education specialists overcome barriers in remote areas, transform lives and build God's Kingdom by enabling the work of more than 1,000 organizations around the world. With its fleet of 134 bush aircraft, MAF serves in 51 countries, with an average of 281 flights daily across Africa, Asia, Eurasia and Latin America. MAF pilots transport missionaries, medical personnel, medicines and relief supplies, as well as conducting thousands of emergency medical evacuations. MAF also provides telecommunications services, such as satellite Internet access, high-frequency radios, electronic mail and other wireless systems, in isolated areas.