Plane crash in South Sudan kills 20

By AFP
January 30, 2025
The wreckage of a plane that crashed, killing people as it was heading to the capital Juba, at the Unity oilfield airport, Unity State, South Sudan, January 29, 2025. — Reuters
The wreckage of a plane that crashed, killing people as it was heading to the capital Juba, at the Unity oilfield airport, Unity State, South Sudan, January 29, 2025. — Reuters

JUBA: A plane has crashed in the north of South Sudan killing at least 20 people, leaving only one confirmed survivor, Unity State´s minister for information said on Wednesday.

The aircraft came down near the oil fields in Unity State at around 10:30 am local time (0830 GMT) shortly after taking off for the capital Juba.

“The plane crashed 500 metres away from the airport,” Gatwech Bipal Both told AFP by phone.

“21 people were on board. As for now, there´s only one survivor.”

The survivor, a South Sudanese engineer working at the oil field, has been rushed to Bentiu State hospital, the minister said.

He said the Ukrainian Passenger aircraft, chartered by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company, was on a routine mission to the area.

“The state government is in a deep sorrow by this accident”, he added, saying there would be an investigation.