Aircraft Crash-Lands at Lankien Airstrip

By Awan Achiek

An aircraft carrying five passengers crash-landed at Lankien Airstrip in Nyirol County, Jonglei State, on Tuesday morning, an airport official confirmed.

The aircraft, identified as T7-BMM, belonged to Salam Airline. The plane veered off a rough airstrip before landing in a muddy ditch.

Kur Kuol, the managing director of Juba International Airport, confirmed the incident to the Dawn but stated that he had not yet received a detailed report from the airline.

“There was a plane crash; there were only five on board. I have not yet received the report from the company, but hopefully, they are okay,” Kuol said.

He disclosed that the ill-fated plane had taken off from Juba International Airport at 7:33 A.M. and was headed for Nyirol County, arriving around 8:55 A.M.

“Actually, this type of aircraft has crashed twice before: one in Yirol and this one; they are the same type,” he said.

He assured that the planes would always be checked and maintained before taking off from Juba International Airport.

South Sudan has witnessed several plane crashes in recent years.

In February 2024, a passenger aircraft operated by Africano Company, transporting returnees who fled the war in Sudan, crash-landed at Malakal Airport, leaving all passengers unharmed.

In April 2023, a cargo plane carrying passengers crash-landed at Juba International Airport, with all passengers escaping unscathed.

On March 2, 2021, a Let L-410 Turbolet of South Sudan Supreme Airlines crashed in Pieri, Uror County, on a domestic flight to Yuai Airstrip.

In August 2020, eight people lost their lives, while a single passenger survived with injuries when a cargo plane crashed into a farm in the Kemeru area just minutes after taking off from Juba International Airport.

In 2015, 36 people were killed when a Soviet-era Antonov plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba.

In 2017, 37 people had a miraculous escape when their plane collided with a fire truck on a runway in Wau before bursting into flames.