A tragic plane crash in northern South Sudan has claimed the lives of at least 20 people, with only one known survivor, according to Unity State’s Minister for Information, Gatwech Bipal Both.
The accident occurred around 10:30 a.m. local time (0830 GMT) near the oil fields in Unity State, shortly after the aircraft took off for Juba, the nation’s capital.
The minister confirmed that the plane went down approximately 500 meters from the airport.
“There were 21 people on board, and so far, only one person has survived,” Both stated.
The lone survivor, a South Sudanese engineer working at the oil fields, was quickly transported to Bentiu State Hospital for medical treatment.
The ill-fated Ukrainian passenger aircraft was chartered by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and operated by Light Air Services Aviation Company.
It was reportedly on a routine flight when the crash occurred.
The plane’s manifest, seen by AFP and confirmed by local authorities, listed all 21 passengers as employees of GPOC—16 South Sudanese nationals, two Chinese nationals, and one Indian.
Authorities have launched an investigation into the cause of the crash, though preliminary speculation suggests a possible mechanical failure.
Photographs circulating on social media show the wreckage of the plane upside down in a field, with debris scattered across the area.
Some unverified images depict a body emerging from the twisted remains of the fuselage.
South Sudan, which gained independence in 2011, has struggled with economic and political instability.
The country’s unreliable transport infrastructure has contributed to frequent air accidents, often blamed on overloading or poor weather conditions.
In recent years, South Sudan has witnessed multiple deadly plane crashes.
In 2021, five people were killed when a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN’s World Food Programme crashed near Juba.
In 2015, an overloaded Antonov aircraft crashed in Juba, killing 36 people. Meanwhile, in 2017, 37 passengers survived when their aircraft struck a fire truck on a runway in Wau before bursting into flames.
