Six Australian executives from the mining company Sundance Resources Ltd. are believed dead after a plane they were on disappeared shortly after taking off from Cameroon Saturday, according to the Sydney Morning Herald.
It is feared that the plane crashed in the dense Congo jungle. The plane was on an hour-long flight to Yangadou in the Republic of the Congo, according to a Sundance press release.
Cameroon, Gabonese, and Congolese authorities with aid from Australian, Canadian, and American officials are participating in ground and air search efforts.
Among the nine on board was mining magnate Ken Talbot, worth approximately $820 million, according to Forbes 2010 Australia’s 40 Richest ranking.
Also on board were two other company directors, a company chairman, and chief executive officer according to the release.