Jakarta, Aug 3 (DPA) Indonesian search and rescue workers have failed to locate an aircraft with 15 people and two babies on board that disappeared shortly after takeoff in the eastern province of Papua, officials said Monday.

Several rescue planes were dispatched to search for the Twin Otter plane belonging to the state-owned Merpati Nusantara Airlines that went missing Sunday in Papua, Indonesia's easternmost province.

But after several hours of searching, the rescue planes came back without spotting any debris, officials at the transportation ministry said.

'Until this (Monday) afternoon, the plane is still missing,' said Bambang S.