The South Sudanese aviation sector suffered a heartbreaking tragedy on Wednesday morning when a plane crash claimed the lives of 20 oil workers. The aircraft had taken off from a location near the oil fields in Unity State and crashed just three minutes into its journey towards the capital city, Juba. Only one individual survived the disastrous incident, according to government officials.
Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol confirmed that among the deceased are five foreign nationals—two from China, one from India, and two from Uganda—while the remaining casualties were South Sudanese. Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the crash, with the minister expressing deep sorrow and condolences to the families and friends of the victims during this challenging period.
The ill-fated flight was chartered by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a collaborative venture involving oil firms from India, China, Malaysia, and the South Sudanese government. It was intended as a routine exploration mission; however, South Sudan's aviation infrastructure remains inadequately developed, leading to a concerning history of air accidents often linked to factors such as aircraft overloading and adverse weather conditions.
This incident follows a previous aviation catastrophe in 2021, where five individuals lost their lives when a cargo plane operated for the UN's World Food Programme crashed near Juba. As the nation grapples with this tragedy, the focus turns to enhancing safety measures within its aviation industry to prevent future misfortunes.
Petroleum Minister Puot Kang Chol confirmed that among the deceased are five foreign nationals—two from China, one from India, and two from Uganda—while the remaining casualties were South Sudanese. Authorities are actively investigating the cause of the crash, with the minister expressing deep sorrow and condolences to the families and friends of the victims during this challenging period.
The ill-fated flight was chartered by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a collaborative venture involving oil firms from India, China, Malaysia, and the South Sudanese government. It was intended as a routine exploration mission; however, South Sudan's aviation infrastructure remains inadequately developed, leading to a concerning history of air accidents often linked to factors such as aircraft overloading and adverse weather conditions.
This incident follows a previous aviation catastrophe in 2021, where five individuals lost their lives when a cargo plane operated for the UN's World Food Programme crashed near Juba. As the nation grapples with this tragedy, the focus turns to enhancing safety measures within its aviation industry to prevent future misfortunes.
