
A tragic plane crash in South Sudan on Wednesday claimed the lives of at least 20 people, including an Indian national, while taking off near an oil field in Unity state. The flight was chartered by the Chinese oil firm Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC) and had 21 people on board, including two pilots.
Gatwech Bipal, the minister of information for Unity state, confirmed that the crash occurred just 500 meters from the airport as the aircraft was departing for Juba International Airport, the capital of South Sudan. “As of now, there is only one survivor,” he said, identifying the survivor as a South Sudanese engineer who has been hospitalized at Bentiu State Hospital.
Authorities revealed that the passengers included 16 South Sudanese nationals, two Chinese nationals, and one Indian, all employees of GPOC. The cause of the crash remains unclear, and investigations are underway.
Frequent Air Accidents in South Sudan
South Sudan, which gained independence from Sudan in 2011, is an oil-rich nation but struggles with transportation infrastructure. Air crashes are common in the country and are often attributed to overloading and poor weather conditions.
In 2021, five people were killed when a cargo plane carrying fuel for the UN’s World Food Programme crashed near Juba. Similarly, a 2015 Antonov plane crash in Juba, believed to have been caused by overloading, resulted in 36 fatalities. In 2017, 37 passengers survived a fiery crash in Wau after their plane struck a fire truck on the runway.
The latest tragedy adds to the growing concerns over aviation safety in the region, as authorities continue efforts to improve infrastructure and safety standards.
Sources By Agencies