Juba, South Sudan – A small passenger aircraft has crashed in South Sudan, killing all 14 people on board in yet another devastating aviation tragedy for the young nation. According to the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, the aircraft went down on Monday morning approximately 20 kilometres south-west of the capital, Juba.
The plane, identified as a Cessna 208 Caravan, had departed from Yei at 09:15 local time and was en route to Juba when authorities lost communication roughly 30 minutes into the flight.
Officials confirmed that the aircraft was operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd.
Among the victims were the pilot and 13 passengers. Authorities said 12 of those on board were South Sudanese nationals, while two were Kenyan citizens.
In an official statement, the aviation authority said a team had been dispatched to the crash site to begin investigations. Preliminary findings suggest the aircraft may have come down due to adverse weather conditions, particularly low visibility.
The tragedy has once again raised concerns over aviation safety standards in South Sudan, a country whose transport infrastructure remains underdeveloped and where air travel often serves as a critical link between remote regions.
Since gaining independence in 2011, South Sudan has recorded more than 55 plane crashes, resulting in dozens of fatalities. Industry experts have frequently pointed to aging aircraft, weak regulatory oversight, overloading, poor weather conditions, and pilot error as recurring causes.
This latest crash comes just over a year after another fatal air disaster in January 2025, when 20 oil workers died after their plane crashed near the oil fields of Unity State shortly after take-off.
One of the deadliest aviation disasters in the country’s history occurred in November 2015, when an Antonov aircraft crashed near Juba Airport, killing 41 people.
As investigations continue, the latest tragedy is expected to intensify calls for urgent reforms in South Sudan’s aviation sector to improve safety and prevent further loss of life.
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