BANDA ACEH (Indonesia) - TWO people were killed and another two critically injured when a light navy plane crashed in Indonesia's Aceh province on Sunday, an official and reports said.

The Nomad aircraft crashed on Weh island, north off the provincial capital of Banda Aceh, shortly after it took off at 11am (noon Singapore time), the local mayor told AFP.

Navy spokesman Iskandar Sitompul told ElShinta news radio the aircraft suffered engine trouble 15 minutes after taking off and decided to return to Sabang. He said the exact cause of the crash was not yet known.

'Bad weather later forced them to make an emergency landing about 200 metres off shore, east of Weh island. Because of the crash, two people died in hospital, and another two are now being treated for their injuries,' said Mr Sitompul.

He said the pilot, co-pilot and Sabang navy base commander Major Suwito were missing.

Navy and police launched rescue teams to find three other missing passengers. Three navy ships and a patrol boat are combing the crash area for the three missing navy officers. -- AFP