At least 14 people have died after a light aircraft crashed about 20 kilometres southwest of Juba, authorities in South Sudan have confirmed.
In a statement issued on April 27, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) said the aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan, registration 5Y-NOK, was operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd and was flying from Yei to Juba International Airport when it went down.
South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority confirmed that the aircraft departed Yei at 9:15am and lost communication less than 30 minutes into the flight.
“The aircraft departed Yei enroute to Juba International Airport at 09:15 AM and lost communication at 09:43am,” the authority said.
Officials said there were 14 people on board, including 13 passengers and one pilot. Among the passengers were two Kenyan nationals and 12 South Sudanese nationals.
“There were 13 passengers and 1 pilot (Captain) on board (POB)… Unfortunately, there were no survivors,” the statement added.
Preliminary findings suggest that adverse weather conditions, particularly low visibility, may have contributed to the crash, though investigations are still ongoing.
Authorities said emergency response teams had been deployed to the crash site to support recovery efforts and gather further information.
“The SSCAA response team has been dispatched to the site to gather information and support emergency and recovery efforts,” the statement said.
The aviation regulator expressed condolences to the families of the victims and said more details would be released as investigations progress.
“The Authority extends its deepest condolences to the families and relatives of those affected by this tragic incident. Further updates will be provided as more verified information becomes available,” it added.
Investigations into the exact cause of the crash are ongoing.
