14 killed as aircraft crashes near South Sudan capital

JUBA — Fourteen people were killed when a small aircraft crashed southwest of South Sudan’s capital Juba on Monday, aviation officials and local sources said, in the latest in a series of deadly air incidents in the country.

Two aviation sources at Juba International Airport told Sudans Post the aircraft went down shortly after losing contact while approaching the capital, with no survivors reported.

The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) later confirmed the crash, saying the aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd., went down about 20 km southwest of Juba.

“The aircraft departed Yei en route to Juba International Airport at 09:15 AM and lost communication at 09:43 AM,” the authority said in a statement. “There were 13 passengers and one pilot on board … Unfortunately, there were no survivors.”

The victims included 12 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyan nationals, the authority added.

Preliminary findings suggest adverse weather conditions, particularly low visibility, may have contributed to the crash, although investigations are ongoing.

Emergency teams have been dispatched to the crash site to support recovery efforts and gather further information, the SSCAA said.

Air travel in South Sudan has long been affected by safety concerns, including aging aircraft, limited infrastructure, and challenging weather conditions.

In January 2025, at least 20 people were killed when a chartered aircraft carrying oil workers crashed in Unity State shortly after takeoff.

Earlier incidents include a 2018 crash near Yirol that killed 20 people when a passenger plane went down in poor visibility conditions, and a 2021 crash in Jonglei State that killed all 10 people on board following reported engine failure.

South Sudan’s deadliest aviation disaster occurred in 2015, when a cargo aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba, killing at least 37 people.

Analysts say the frequency of such incidents reflects broader structural challenges in the country’s aviation sector, where oversight, maintenance capacity, and operational conditions remain limited.

The SSCAA said further updates would be provided as more verified information becomes available.