By Manas James
A small cargo plane, carrying five people including two crew members, crash-landed at an airstrip in Walgak town of Akobo County, Jonglei State on Monday evening.
All five people aboard the plane, including two crew members, are safe.
Speaking to No. 1 Citizen Daily Newspaper yesterday, Kuot John Akec, the director of Bor Airport, said the incident occurred when the small caravan aircraft belonging to Air Jet slid off the runway at the Walgak airstrip shortly after landing.
“There was a crash last evening. A cargo aircraft with three local passengers and two Kenyan pilots left Juba for Walgak in Akobo at 2 pm. One hour later, it arrived at in Walgak. When the plane landed, the pilot tried to stop but the break failed. Thence, the pilot lost control. He avoided a building and then he tried to take off again but he could not and as such he hit a tree,” he explained.
The state aviation chief said the incident will be investigated.
“All five people who were onboard were rescued safely. We learnt that only the plane was totally damaged. A team from Juba will visit he incident scene this morning to assess the situation,” he added.
On her part, Elizabeth Nyadak Jok, the state information minister, also confirmed the incident, expressing gratitude that no one was killed in the crash.
“The commercial plane was hired by some businessmen to take goods from Juba to Akobo. There were five people onboard. On reaching Walgak, it crashed while landing,” she said.
Five people abode the ill-fated plane were safe with only some sustaining minor injuries.
Cases of plane crashes are commonplace in the country.
On 28 April, a cargo plane with passengers on board crash-landed at the country’s main airport and all passengers were safe.
This latest crash brings to five a total number of planes that have crashed since the beginning of the year.