Cargo plane with Russian crew crash-lands in S. Sudan, over 40 reported dead

A plane has crash-landed near South Sudan’s airport shortly after taking off Wednesday. Conflicting reports suggest that up to 40 people have been killed on board and on the ground.

The crashed plane may have had about 20 crew and passengers, two of which survived, according to the South Sudanese president’s spokesman. Also, others on the ground may have been killed.

Reuters says its eyewitness has counted over 40 bodies at the crash site, but it is unclear how many of those were on board.

An unidentified police officer near the scene told Reuters that there were two survivors, including a child, but could not say how many people were on board or give further details.

The agency’s eyewitness saw aircraft lying across the White Nile River, Reuters reports. According to the local radio station’s Twitter feed, the crash occurred around 800 meters from Juba airport.

A woman and seven children are among the victims, the local National Courier media outlet reported.

The plane was headed to Paloich in the Upper Nile region, a source told the National Courier.

Source: The Russian Today