Plane crashes in remote part of South Sudan, 18 killed

At least 18 people were killed on Wednesday when a small plane crashed in a remote part of South Sudan, reported AP.

The flight, chartered by Chinese oil firm Greater Pioneer Operating Company, had 21 people on board, including two pilots, AP quoted the minister of information in the oil-rich Unity state, Gatwech Bipal.

"The plane crashed 500 metres away from the airport. 21 people were on board. As for now, there's only one survivor," Gatwech Bipal Both told AFP by phone.

The plane crashed while it was taking off near an oil field to head to the international airport in Juba, the South Sudanese capital, he added.

"The state government is in a deep sorrow by this accident", he said, saying there would be an investigation. "Although most people predicted that this might be a mechanical collision."

The reason for the crash was not immediately clear, and authorities had not yet revealed the identities of the victims. Local media reported that the plane was carrying oil workers.

According to the manifest seen by AFP, and confirmed by local authorities, all of the passengers are employees of GPOC: 16 South Sudanese, two Chinese nationals and 1 Indian.

President Salva Kiir expressed his "profound sorrow" over the crash, saying he would "pray for the quick recovery of the survivor", reported AFP. 

Ever since South Sudan broke away from its northern neighbour in 2011, it has faced severe economic and political instability.

The nation lacks a reliable transport infrastructure, and air accidents are common, with overloading or poor weather as the main causes.

Previous incidents:

Earlier in 2021, five people were killed after a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN's World Food Programme crashed near Juba.

In 2017, an Antonov plane in Juba crashed, and 36 were killed. In 2017, 37 people had a miraculous escape after their plane hit a fire truck on a runway in Wau before bursting into flames, added AFP.

With agency inputs.