An Australian pilot was one of three people killed when their plane crashed in Papua New Guinea on Saturday.

Charter company Hevilift has confirmed an Australian pilot, his co-pilot and one passenger, both of whom were PNG nationals, were killed when the Hevilift Twin Otter aircraft carrying seven passengers went down near the capital Port Moresby.

Unreached destination: the downed plane had been en route to Port Moresby airport. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen

The six PNG national survivors, one in a critical condition, are being treated at a Port Moresby hospital.

The flight was travelling from Woitape in Goilala district to Port Moresby on Saturday morning but crashed about seven kilometres south of the PNG Defence Force Supply and Ordinance Barracks at Goldie.