Australian mining magnate feared dead in plane crash

Nine persons, including Australian mining magnate Ken Talbot, are feared dead after their aircraft went missing in Cameroon in West Africa.

Melbourne: Nine persons, including
Australian mining magnate Ken Talbot, are feared dead after
their aircraft went missing in Cameroon in West Africa.

Talbot and eight others, including six Australians,
were onboard a charter flight yesterday from the Cameroon
capital of Yaounde bound for the Mbalam iron ore project.

Sundance Group owns the project where Talbot also has
around 14 per cent stake.

"We are seriously concerned about their safety and
well-being...Our officials, including those on the ground in
Cameroon, are rendering consular assistance to the company,"
Australian Foreign Minister Stephen Smith said.

The plane lost contact about 25 minutes after
take-off, news.au.com reported.

Meanwhile, the company has issued a statement saying
"The flight was carrying nine passengers, predominately from
Sundance Resources, who were visiting the company`s iron ore
project in Cameroon and Congo."

"A comprehensive air and ground search coordinated by
the Cameroon military will commence at first daylight local
time on Sunday. A Congolese aircraft will also be involved in
the search for the missing aircraft," it added.

"The families of the missing have been notified and are
being supported during this deeply distressing time," the
company said.

There are reports that Sundance`s managing director Don
Lewis, independent director Craig Oliver, and non-executive
director John Jones were also on the plane.

PTI

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