A tragic air accident in South Sudan has claimed the lives of all 14 people on board a small passenger aircraft that crashed near the capital, Juba, on April 27.
The aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd, was en route from Yei to Juba when it went down approximately 20 kilometres south-west of the city after losing contact with air traffic control.
According to the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, the flight departed Yei at about 09:15 local time and communication was lost roughly 30 minutes later. Authorities confirmed that all passengers and crew on board, including the pilot, died in the crash.
Preliminary findings point to poor weather conditions, particularly low visibility, as a possible factor, although officials emphasised that a full investigation is underway to determine the exact cause. Emergency response teams have been deployed to the crash site to support recovery efforts and gather evidence.
The victims included 12 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyan citizens. The incident adds to a series of aviation accidents in the country, where infrastructure challenges, weather conditions, and safety concerns have historically contributed to air travel risks.
