Wednesday’s jet crash in Unity State, South Sudan, claimed the lives of at least eighteen persons.
Before the plane crashed, the majority of the passengers and crew were killed, according to Radio Miraya, which is run by the United Nations Mission in South Sudan (UNMISS). The plane had taken off from an oilfield in the northern state.
There were twenty-one people on board the doomed aircraft. Only three people reportedly made it out alive, although it’s unclear what their present health is.
South Sudan’s Information Minister, Michael Makuei, has yet to issue an official statement on the crash.
This latest incident adds to the growing list of aviation disasters in war-torn South Sudan, where poor infrastructure and outdated aircraft continue to pose serious risks.
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September 2018: At least 19 people lost their lives when a small passenger plane flying from Juba to Yirol crashed.
November 2015: A Russian-built cargo plane carrying passengers crashed after takeoff from Juba International Airport, killing dozens.
Investigators are looking into what caused the most recent crash. Initial reports suggest that the aircraft may have suffered technical difficulties, but officials have not ruled out other possible factors.
The South Sudanese government has promised to release an official statement once more details are confirmed.
