The twin-engine aircraft which left the East Kalimantan capital of Samarinda on Friday had reportedly attempted an emergency landing in the thick, mountainous jungle for an unknown reason.

According to the Australian Associated Press, the four men discovered at the still-burning crash site were “badly burnt” and included Elliot, the pilot and two as-yet unidentified Indonesians.

Elliot chartered the 90-minute mine surveying flight through his company which specialises in minesite geophysical analysis and had made several similar trips before. He was 57.

Official Chinese state media outlet Xinhua identified the pilot as Captain Marshal Basir.

The remains of all the passengers have been sent to a hospital in Samarinda where an identification process is still ongoing.

The wreckage was discovered on the slopes of Mt Mayang in the eastern region of the island and was reportedly difficult to excavate due to the steep contours and smouldering equipment.

“The plan was trying to have an emergency landing in a forest but then it was still loaded with fuel,” national Search and Rescue Agency spokesperson Gagah Prakoso told the AAP.

“The landing created sparks then it hit the fuel and burnt the plane.”

The passengers are believed to have died instantly.