Six people died today when a light aircraft crashed at a remote airstrip in Papua New Guinea.

The victims, who include two children, were all inhabitants of Papua New Guinea. The Australian pilot survived the crash but is said to be in critical condition. He has been flown by helicopter to a hospital in the capital, Port Moresby.

It is believed that a fire broke out on board the Cessna before it went down. The pilot sent out a distress call but did not state the nature of the emergency.