By Yiep Joseph
Public grief and outrage mounts after a devastating plane crash at Unity State Oil Field on Wednesday claimed 20 lives.
A Ukrainian passenger aircraft (registration 5X-RHB) crashed shortly after takeoff around 10:30 am, leaving only one survivor.
The Engineering Council of South Sudan (ECOSS) has now joined calls for a thorough investigation into the tragedy and urged the aviation authority to implement stronger safety measures to prevent future crashes.
In a condolence letter signed by the ECOSS Chairman Professor Ajuoi Magot, the council appealed for an immediate probe into the cause of the crash and urged the Aviation Authority as well to uphold strong measures to prevent plane crashes.
“We are calling for an urgent and thorough investigation by competent authorities as soon as possible.” Prof Ajuoi said in the statement.
“We equally urged the Civil Aviation Authority to uphold strong measures to prevent such incidents in the future,” he added.
The council acknowledged the gap created by the lost of the twenty engineers and sent condolences to the families.
“The Engineering Council of South Sudan (ECOSS) leadership is deeply saddened by the unfortunate demise of able young and talented engineers of GPOC who have been serving our nation with absolute dedication,” he said.
The council emphasized the need to ensure advanced training for pilots and crew, strict maintenance protocols, and critical supervision of planes before licensing.
The council expressed that it is premature to speculate on the cause of the plane crash that left 20 people dead; however, the undermined/neglected role of aeronautical engineers, pilots, licensed maintenance engineers, air traffic controllers, etc., could be the reason why aircraft like others before crashed.
Also in a separate statement, President Salva Kiir ordered an investigation into a plane crash that devastated the engineering fraternity in particular and South Sudan at large.
“In the wake of this tragic incident, I have directed the Ministry of Transport and all relevant authorities to conduct a thorough and swift investigation to determine the cause of the crash and give answers to the grieving families,” Kiir said in a statement.
The president sent his condolences to the bereaved families and his sympathies to all those affected by the tragedy.
“Let us come together as a nation to support the grieving families and honor the memory of those we have lost in this tragedy,” he said.
The president acknowledged that the deceased were dedicated to the progress of South Sudan, and the country will feel their loss.
In another press briefing, the Minister of Petroleum, Puot Kang Chol, expressed sadness following the report of this unfortunate, sudden incident.
“Our thoughts and condolences go out to the families and loved ones of those onboard during this incredibly difficult time, particularly those who lost their loved ones.” Puot Kang consoled.
The minister revealed that the investigation of the cause of the crash was underway.
“An investigation into the cause of the crash is underway, and we are fully committed to cooperating with the relevant authorities to ensure that a thorough examination is conducted,” Puot said.
The crash is part of a troubling trend in South Sudanese airspace that has often seen a spate of aviation incidents.
Unworthy airspace.
In August last year, four people sustained minor injuries in an aviation mishap where a private chartered plane crashed in the Mandeng area of Nasir County, Upper Nile State.
The crash is part of a troubling trend in South Sudan Airspace that often saw a spate of aviation incidents.
John David, the former director general of the South Sudan Aviation Authority who announced an investigation into the crash said many of these accidents have been attributed to pilot error rather than technical malfunctions.
“We are going to act on this by warning all companies to check their crews and documents. Fatigue and lack of refreshment can lead to serious misjudgments,” David earlier stated.
The most recent significant incident prior to the Mandeng crash in 2024 involved a United Nations Humanitarian Air Service (UNHAS) plane that crash-landed at Malakal Airport on August 9, 2024. This saw thirty-five people narrowly escaped death in that accident.
Prior to that on August 8, 2024, a cargo aircraft chartered by the World Food Programme (WFP) caught fire after landing in Pieri Payam, Uror County of Jonglei State. The blaze spread to nearby huts, resulting in the deaths of three people and injuries to others.
In earlier 2024, a military cargo plane crashed at Yida airstrip in the Ruweng Administrative Area in March, and a passenger aircraft operated by Africano Company crash-landed at Malakal Airport in February with no reported injuries.
A notable accident in April 2023 saw a cargo plane crash-land at Juba International Airport, with all passengers emerging unharmed.
Furthermore, 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.
This latest incident comes amidst growing concerns about the safety of air travel in South Sudan, where plane crashes have become alarmingly frequent in recent years.
Aviation experts attribute previous incidents to a combination of factors, including the use of ageing aircraft, inadequate maintenance, overloading, and poor weather conditions.
A key issue that has emerged in the wake of the crashes is the apparent failure of authorities to enforce regulations on aircraft being imported into the country.
Repeated promises to crack down on the use of old planes and improve safety standards at airports have made little progress.
Despite these frequent aircraft crashes people continue to seek aviation services because the poor challenging road infrastructure in South Sudan has made air transport crucial, contributing to the high frequency of aviation incidents in the region.