South Sudan: Many dead after passenger plane crashes in river

At least 19 people died in South Sudan when a small aircraft carrying passengers from Juba International Airport to the city of Yirol crashed, a local official said.

Taban Abel Aguek, State information Minister, told Anadolu news agency three people, including one child and a co-pilot, have been rescued from the crash.

The minister said 22 people were on board the 19-seater plane. He said authorities are investigating the cause of Sunday’s crash.

“We have not yet established full details of the airline but what we know it is a 19-seater plane coming from Juba to Yirol this morning,” Aguek, told AFP news agency.

“When it arrived the weather was so foggy and when it tried to land it crashed… Its so sad. Many people on board are feared dead. We are still establishing details,” he added.

Anglican Bishop of Yirol, Simon Adut, was confirmed among the dead, according to Abel.

Meanwhile, the United Nations radio station Radio Miraya reported there were only three survivors, and posted a picture on its Twitter account of the twisted wreckage of the plane submerged in water.

UPDATE: Here is a wreckage of an aircraft that plunged into Yirol River in Lakes state of #SouthSudan killing scores. Among the dead is an #Italian doctor and the Bishop of Yirol @unmissmedia @UNRIC_Italia @shiine2054 @IreneLasu @SebitWilliamKer @GShadar pic.twitter.com/OM41OFVI4n

— Radio Miraya (@RadioMiraya) September 9, 2018

In 2015, 36 people were killed when a Soviet-era Antonov plane crashed just after take-off from Juba.

In 2017, 37 people had a miraculous escape after their plane hit a fire truck on a runway in northwestern Wau before bursting into flames.