At least 14 people, including two Kenyan nationals, were killed on Tuesday after a CityLink Aviation aircraft crashed near Juba, South Sudan, in what authorities suspect was caused by poor weather conditions.
The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) confirmed that the aircraft, a Kenyan-registered Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd, was flying from Yei to Juba International Airport when it lost communication shortly after departure.
According to SSCAA, the plane, registration number 5Y-NOK, took off from Yei at 9:15 a.m. and was scheduled to land in Juba before contact was lost at approximately 9:43 a.m. The aircraft is believed to have crashed about 20 kilometres southwest of Juba.
All 14 people on board, 13 passengers and one pilot, died in the crash. Authorities said the victims included two Kenyan citizens and 12 South Sudanese nationals. No survivors were reported.
Preliminary investigations suggest that adverse weather conditions, particularly poor visibility, may have played a significant role in the accident.
Emergency response teams were immediately deployed to the crash site to begin recovery efforts and support ongoing investigations into the cause of the tragedy.
The SSCAA expressed its condolences to the bereaved families and pledged to provide further updates as investigators work to establish the full circumstances surrounding the crash.
