Cargo plane crashes in South Sudan, 5 dead

JUBA, South Sudan

A cargo plane with five people on board crashed in South Sudan on Tuesday, leaving all five crew members dead, an official confirmed.

The Antonov An-26 plane crashed shortly after it took off from the capital Juba’s airport at around 10 a.m. (0800GMT).

The plane, chartered by Spanish-based Euroairlines, came down in the Gondokoro area in Juba County, located on the eastern bank of the Nile River, according to Kur Kuol, director general of the Juba International Airport.

Kuol confirmed to Anadolu Agency that among the five who perished are two Russian nationals, two Sudanese nationals, and one South Sudanese.

Among other items, the plane was transporting 28 drums of fuel weighing 5,404 kilograms (11,914 pounds), according to a manifest seen by Anadolu Agency.

Kuol said an investigation has been launched to determine the cause of the crash.

“We don’t know (the cause) for sure right now since the crash happened a long way from the airport,” Kuol said earlier today.

The plane was heading to Maban County, Upper Nile State.