Long wait for loved ones who died in Kokoda plane crash

THE last of the bodies of 13 people who perished in the Kokoda plane crash have been flown to Port Moresby.

THE last of the bodies of 13 people who perished in the Kokoda plane crash have been flown to Port Moresby.

But grieving families still have an agonising wait before they can put their loved ones to rest.

DNA experts and a forensic anthropologist from Japan are examining the remains.

"It may be weeks before the bodies can be identified and returned home to their loved ones," the source said.

"They are going as quickly as possible, but they are going to take no risks, so there are no mistakes."

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Neighbours said a young couple with their children lived in the home, which caught fire about 2.30am.

Nine Australian trekkers, including seven Victorians, were among the 13 people killed when the Airlines PNG Twin Otter charter plane slammed nose-first into a ridge on approach to Kokoda airstrip on Tuesday. Also killed were three Papua New Guineans and a Japanese man.

Trekkers who completed the walk on the weekend said the challenge was made even tougher by the news of the deaths.

"The track is a wonderful place. We've all benefited from it and it's a tragedy these people couldn't fulfil their dream," Graham O'Connor said.

Martin Ellis, from Adelaide, said his group held a dawn service at Isurava village on Saturday.

"We said a prayer for them as well," he said.

"It just shocks you, it puts a deep wound in you."

Authorities are yet to decide if they will try to fly the shattered wreckage of the aircraft out of the jungle.

PNG Prime Minister Sir Michael Somare yesterday spoke about the tragedy for the first time at a memorial service at St Joseph's Church in Port Moresby.

"We pray for them and we pray for their future. We hope they are in God's good hands," he said.

Sir Michael said Australia's quick response to the tragedy showed the close bond between the two nations forged in the blood of war and disaster.

"When disaster happens the first to help are always the Australians," he said.

Sir Michael vowed the crash investigation would be completed as quickly as possible.

"I think this is something that is very important for all of us. Some of us are closely related, related to those families who lost," he said.

"Especially for the Australian victims who came up to do something, to see something and perhaps follow the tracks of some of their forefathers."

Australian Federal Police officers left the crash site yesterday to be replaced by Civil Aviation Authority of PNG and Australian Transport Safety Bureau investigators.

Preliminary findings into the cause of the crash - pilot error, bad weather or mechanical fault - are due to be released next month.