By William Madouk
South Sudan’s cabinet has directed the national minister of Transport to check airworthiness of planes operating in the country following spate of crashes resulting into loss of lives.
The directive comes after the minister of transport; Madut Biar Yel presented two reports on frequent air crashes involving two airline companies – the Southwest and South Supreme Carriers.
However, the country’s minister of information, Michael Makuei Lueth said the inquiry revealed a lot of loopholes in air incidents.
“After thorough investigation into that [incidences], it was found that there are a lot of irregularities involved in those incidents – and also on the report of South Supreme airline,” Makuei said.
“As such, the cabinet directed the minister of transport in collaboration with aviation authority to thoroughly check on planes airworthiness,” he told the media, on Friday.
The cabinet, chaired by President Salva Kiir Mayardit also directed Minister Bair to conform with international aviation standards to safeguard the lives of South Sudanese.
Due to insecurity and poor roads, South Sudanese opt for air transport to reach some of the remote places in the far corners of the country.
But the woes do not end on the surface of the earth; the country’s aviation sector has been violent too, characterized by frequent crashes, if left unabated, could define the airspace as a graveyard.
Makuei argued that most jets operating in South Sudan are not flyable in other parts of the globe, adding that if not airworthy, uninsured and unlicensed that it should be grounded.
“People go and buy junk aircraft, come and operate them here in South Sudan, so those planes should be thoroughly checked on their airworthiness,” he noted.
“In addition, some of these planes have been found to be operating without licenses, others are operating with forged documents,” he added.
He also claimed that most of the planes are not insured and whenever aircraft crashes – the owner of the airline was the one to pay compensation.
“If the planes are proof to be airworthy then they must be licensed and insured so that they continue to operate in South Sudan,” he stressed.
At a parliamentary sitting this week, Minister Bair told Member of Parliament that, they have grounded at least eight aircraft with fake registration certificate.
Earlier, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) apologized for the rising number of plane crashes in the country.
The country’s air safety regulator said they take responsibility for the negligence on their part, which might have played a part in the air worrying accidents.
In March 2021, a plane, L-410, operated by South Supreme Airlines crashed while en route from Uror County for Jonglei state to Juba killing all on board.
In August 2020, eight people died and one passenger survived with injuries when a plane crashed minutes after takeoff from Juba International Airport.
Nineteen people perished in 2018 when a small aircraft carrying passengers from Juba to Yirol crashed.
Also In 2017, 37 people miraculously survived after their plane hit a fire truck on a runway in Wau before bursting into flames.
While in 2015, at least 36 people were killed when a Soviet-era Antonov plane crashed just after takeoff in Juba.