South Sudan Plane Crash Kills At Least 40 People

Over 40 people reported dead in the South Sudan cargo-plane crash.

Rescuers pick through the wreckage of the cargo plane which crashed in Juba, South Sudan. (Photo: AP)

A Russian-built cargo plane crashed on Wednesday killing tens of people. The crash also led to people on the ground being killed which takes the death toll to at least 41 people. The plane had taken off from the airport in South Sudan’s capital, an official said.

Presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny said a crew member and a child on board survived.

Shortly after taking off from Juba airport the plane came down on the banks of the White Nile river. The tail fin and lumps of fuselage were strewn in vegetation close to the water.

The plane may have had about 20 people on board, including crew and “probably” 10 to 15 passengers, Ateny said, but added, “We need to confirm how many people were on board.”

In addition, he said an unknown number of people were killed on the ground as the Antonov plane crashed near where some fishermen were working.