14 Dead After CityLink Cessna Crashes Near Juba, South Sudan, Following Take-off
A passenger plane operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd. crashed on Monday morning near Juba, South Sudan, resulting in the deaths of all 14 individuals on board. The Cessna 208 Caravan aircraft, which departed from Yei at 09:15 local time, lost contact with authorities approximately 30 minutes into its journey to the capital.
The crash site is located about 20km south-west of Juba. The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) has dispatched a team to investigate the incident. Initial indications suggest that the crash may have been precipitated by "adverse weather conditions, particularly low visibility," according to an SSCAA statement.
Among the casualties were 12 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyans. The deceased included the pilot and 13 passengers.
South Sudan's aviation sector has a concerning safety record, marked by over 55 plane crashes and numerous fatalities since the nation's independence in 2011. Contributing factors frequently cited in these incidents include the use of older aircraft, inadequate regulatory enforcement, overloading, inclement weather, and pilot error. In January 2025, a separate incident saw 20 oil workers perish when their aircraft crashed near Unity state's oil fields. The deadliest aviation disaster in the country occurred in November 2015, when an Antonov plane crash near Juba airport claimed 41 lives.
