By Philip Buda Ladu
The recent string of aircraft incidents in Upper Nile Region has provoked a lawmaker to call on Parliament to summon transport and civil aviation authorities to address the rampant plane accidents.
MP. Reth Mach Thor, representing Nasir County Constituency in Upper Nile State on the SPLM-IO ticket, raised the issue of the plane crashes on 29th session of the Transitional National Assembly.
He demanded answers from the relevant authorities on what is driving the alarming frequency of these air incidents.
“I rise today to bring to the attention of this August House the growing concerns surrounding the safety and reliability of the aircraft operating in the Republic of South Sudan,” he told the house.
Mr. Reth cited some recent incidents in Upper Nile State, where a UNHAS aircraft crash-landed at Malakal airport after its front tyres fell off in the air shortly after takeoff from Maban County en route to Juba forcing it to make an emergency landing.
This successful emergency landing incident which saw all passengers and crew members emerge unhurt came against the backdrop of another tragic plane incident in Uror County of Jonglei State where three people on board were reported dead.
“This recent incident, including multiple crashes, highlights the urgent need to address this critical issue endangering the lives of our citizens in the Republic of South Sudan” MP Reth echoed.
For the last past years and recent months, South Sudan has witnessed a concerning number of aircraft crashes which resulted in the loss of lives, injuries and even the destruction of properties.
“In light of this information, I would like to call upon the aviation authority of South Sudan, the regulatory body that is overseeing the safety of aircraft in South Sudan to be summoned to this house and also the minister of transport to come and explain to us what the causes are,” Mr. Reth urged the house.
The lawmaker wondered whether these alarming air traffic incidences have been caused by maintenance issues, noting there is unease in the country when it comes to air transport safety.
“There is anxiety around the country because the aircrafts have been crashing everywhere and we don’t know what is happening so I would like these people to be summoned urgently to the national assembly” Reth reiterated his concern.
Meanwhile TNLA Speaker Rt. Hon. Jemma Nunu Kumba said this information would be treated as a distinctive issue directing the MP to table a motion on the same.
“So that is a different item which needs to be presented also so that we can call the two officials; the minister of transport and aviation authority chief executive officer,” Nunu advised.
In March 2021, a plane, L-410, operated by South Supreme Airlines crashed while en route from Uror County 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.
In 2015, 36 people were killed when a Soviet-era Antonov plane crashed just after takeoff in Juba.