Jakarta: Indonesia's transport ministry says the Trigana plane that went missing in the Papua province with 54 people on board has been found by local villagers.

There were no reports yet of any survivors. Indonesia's transport ministry spokesman J.A. Barata told news agencies search and rescue teams would head to the site at first light on Monday. The two eight-member teams would leave Jayapura at 6am AEST.

The Indonesian twin-turboprop aircraft lost contact with air traffic control on Sunday in the remote, forested eastern Papua region, the National Search and Rescue Agency (BASARNAS) said, with search efforts hampered by failing light as night fell.

"It's a Trigana airline plane carrying 54 people including five crew. We are working to get more details," BASARNAS chief Bambang Soelystyo said after the plane disappeared from radar.