"I have spoken to a couple of them this evening myself. I have been up all night, overnight and it has not been a pleasant experience, but I cannot tell you how tragic it is on behalf of the families. There are young children involved. It is quite overwhelming to lose so many people in one incident," he said.

The plane's flight recorder has been recovered, although Australian authorities say it is too early to say what caused the crash.

The plane had been chartered by the Australian mining company, Sundance Resources. Chairman Geoff Wedlock and other senior executives were on board.

The Perth company says the executives were visiting an iron ore facility that straddles the border between Cameroon and Congo, a project that could generate billions of dollars and provide long-term employment in the region.

The Sundance team had traveled to West Africa as part of plans to expand its operations in the region.

The tragedy prompted the suspension of the company's shares on the Australian Stock Exchange while a new management team is assembled.