South Sudan Plane Crash Kills All 15 On Board
Preliminary reports suggest the Cessna 208 Caravan went down near Juba due to poor visibility and adverse weather conditions shortly after losing contact with air traffic control.
- A small passenger aircraft crashed near Juba, South Sudan, killing all 15 people on board, including 13 South Sudanese and two Kenyans.
- The plane lost contact with air traffic control about 30 minutes after taking off from Yei
- Authorities have launched investigations into the crash
A small passenger aircraft has crashed in South Sudan, killing all 15 people on board, according to the country’s civil aviation authority (SSCAA).
Authorities say a response team has been dispatched to the crash site to begin investigations. However, preliminary findings suggest the aircraft may have gone down due to bad weather conditions, especially low visibility.
The plane crashed on Monday morning about 20km south-west of the capital, Juba. It had taken off from Yei at 09:15 local time (07:15 GMT), but air traffic control lost contact roughly 30 minutes into the flight.
The manifest indicates that those on board included the pilot and 14 passengers—13 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyans.
The aircraft, identified as a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd, was en route to the capital when the incident occurred.
South Sudan, the world’s newest nation, continues to struggle with a weak transport system and a poor aviation safety record. Over the years, multiple air accidents have been recorded, often linked to ageing aircraft, poor regulation, overloading, harsh weather conditions, and human error.
In January 2025, 20 oil workers died in a similar crash shortly after take-off in Unity State. One of the country’s deadliest air disasters occurred in November 2015, when 41 people lost their lives in a crash near Juba airport.
