Juba residents visit plane crash scene West of Juba International Airport/courtesy photo

An official at Juba International Airport has said investigations to establish the cause of a cargo plane crash in the city Friday morning are underway.

Three passengers and two crew members have survived the crash west of Juba International Airport.

The Fly Air Africa cargo plane took off from the city airport when it shortly came down and crashed in an unoccupied area near Referendum residential area.

“The crush is true, the plane belongs to a company called Fly Air Africa. It took off from Juba International Airport and was heading to Lankien, Kur Kuol”, the Director of the Airport confirmed.

According to Kur Kuol, the Director of the Airport, the plane was heading to Lankien in Akobo County of Jonglei state.

The five people aboard are unhurt, but the plane suffered some damage to the cabin.

The cause of the crash is unknown.

However, Kuol said an investigation team will be formed to establish the cause of the crash.

“The three passengers and two crew are safe, but the plane has some damage. I cannot tell what was caused until investigations are done, he added.

Airplane crashes are often reported in South Sudan, a situation attributed to the use of outdated aircraft as well as overloading airplanes.

In July 2022, a plane crashed to a standstill while attempting to take off at Juba International Airport.

While in November 2021, a cargo plane crashed in the capital Juba killing all five crew members on board.

This followed another deadly crash that killed 10 people in Jonglei State in March of the same year.

In 2020, the Civil Aviation Authority withdrew the license of several Antonov planes and ordered their owners to fly them out of South Sudan.

The Aviation Authority also warned two AN-26 planes owned by the South Sudan Air force flying with foreign civil registration to change to the military or else face a ban by the aviation authority.

The Russian Antonov AN-26s, which were manufactured in 1969 – have been blacklisted by the Flights Safety foundation in 2006.