14 Killed in Plane Crash Near Juba

Fourteen people, including the pilot, were killed when a small aircraft crashed near the South Sudanese capital, according to the Civil Aviation Authority on Monday.

The authority said the Cessna aircraft took off from Juba International Airport at 7:15 GMT before crashing about 20 kilometres from the city. No survivors were reported.

The aircraft was carrying 14 passengers—12 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyans.

An UN rescue team member deployed to the site, speaking on condition of anonymity, said all bodies were “burnt beyond recognition.”

The Civil Aviation Authority said preliminary findings suggest the crash was caused by poor weather conditions, particularly low visibility.

Air crashes are relatively frequent in South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, and are often attributed to overloading or adverse weather conditions