Plane crashes in S/Sudan, witnesses say dozens killed

A Russian-built cargo plane has crashed on take-off near the international airport in South Sudan’s capital Juba, killing at least 36 people. South Sudan’s transport minister says two people were found alive, but one of them later died. Earlier an official had said there were three survivors. It is not yet known how many were […]

A Russian-built cargo plane has crashed on take-off near the international airport in South Sudan’s capital Juba, killing at least 36 people.
South Sudan’s transport minister says two people were found alive, but one of them later died. Earlier an official had said there were three survivors.
It is not yet known how many were killed on the plane, or on the ground.
The Antonov An-12 plane was heading to Paloch, Upper Nile State, and crashed 800m (half a mile) from the runway.
Transport Minister Kuong Danhier Gatluak told AP that 36 people were confirmed dead.
But a police officer and eyewitness told Reuters they had seen 41 bodies.
Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said the plane was carrying 18 people, including six crew members. All of the passengers were from South Sudan, he added.
Mr Ateny said five of the six crew members were Armenian, while the sixth member was Russian. Armenia’s foreign ministry has confirmed that five of its nationals were killed.
While it is not yet clear what caused the crash, the presidential spokesman told journalists that it may have been down to engine failure.
The Antonov State Company, which built the plane, is a Ukrainian aircraft manufacturing company.