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Plane Crash Near South Sudan's Capital Kills All 14 On Board
A small passenger plane crashed southwest of Juba in South Sudan, killing the pilot and 13 passengers. The civil aviation authority cited adverse weather and low visibility as a possible cause. The incident highlights ongoing aviation safety issues in the country.
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A Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd. crashed about 20 kilometers southwest of South Sudan's capital, Juba, on April 27, 2026, killing all 14 people on board. The plane, carrying 13 passengers and one pilot, included 12 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyans.
m. local time and lost contact with authorities about 30 minutes later, according to the South Sudanese Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA).
The SSCAA stated that initial reports suggest the crash resulted from adverse weather conditions, particularly low visibility. A team was dispatched to the site to investigate and support recovery efforts. Videos from the crash site showed the aircraft wreckage in flames, as reported by Al Jazeera.
One source, the South China Morning Post, reported the plane departed from Juba International Airport, contradicting other accounts that specified departure from Yei en route to Juba.
Sudan has a poor aviation safety record, with frequent crashes attributed to factors such as overloading, bad weather, old aircraft, and weak regulatory compliance. More than 55 planes have crashed in the country since its independence in 2011, resulting in dozens of fatalities.
In January 2025, 20 oil workers died when their aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff near oil fields in Unity state. The worst incident occurred in November 2015, when an Antonov plane crashed near Juba airport, killing 41 people.
The country's aviation infrastructure remains underdeveloped amid ongoing instability, conflict, and poverty. Accidents are commonly linked to pilot errors, overloading, and adverse weather. The SSCAA has emphasized the need for investigations into this latest crash to determine the exact cause.
