SOUTH SUDAN: Plane Crash In Bentiu, South Sudan Leaves 19 Dead And 2 In Critical Condition

By Debora Akur Chol, South Sudan

At least 19 people, including two Chinese nationals, have died in a plane crash in South Sudan.

The small aircraft, carrying oil workers from the Unity oilfields in Rubkona County, Unity State, crashed on Wednesday morning shortly after takeoff, according to State Information Minister Gatwech Bipal.

The crash occurred at 10:30 a.m. as the plane was en route from Unity State to Juba Airport.

“The plane crashed and killed 19 people, including two pilots and two Chinese nationals,” Minister Bipal said in a statement to the press.

The aircraft, registered as 5X-RHB and hired by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), had 21 people on board, including the two pilots. Minister Bipal confirmed that 17 of the victims were South Sudanese nationals, while the other two were Chinese citizens.

Two survivors, a South Sudanese and an Indian man, are in critical condition and have been rushed to a hospital for treatment.

“The plane was carrying oilfield employees who were returning home after completing 28 days of work,” Minister Bipal added.

Authorities are awaiting further details from GPOC and the aviation company involved.

Eng. Saleh Akot, the Acting Director of Juba International Airport, also confirmed the crash, noting that the flight had departed from Unity State earlier in the morning.

“The aircraft crashed shortly after takeoff on its way to Juba. There were 19 passengers and two crew members on board. We are still gathering more information,” Akot said.

A team from the aviation authority has been dispatched to the crash site to investigate the cause of the incident.

This latest crash adds to a series of aviation accidents in South Sudan in recent years.

In August 2024, a cargo plane caught fire after landing in Pieri Payam, Uror County, leaving the two crew members injured.

In March 2024, a military cargo plane crashed at the Yida airstrip in the Ruweng Administrative Area, while in February 2024, an Africano Company passenger plane transporting returnees from Sudan crash-landed at Malakal Airport without injuries.

South Sudan’s challenging road infrastructure has made air travel a critical means of transportation for many, which in turn has contributed to the frequency of aviation accidents in the country.

The deadliest crash in recent history occurred in August 2020 when a cargo plane crashed into a farm near Kemeru shortly after departing from Juba International Airport.

Eight people lost their lives, while one passenger survived with injuries. Other notable incidents include a 2021 crash involving a Let L-410 Turbolet aircraft operated by South Sudan Supreme Airlines, which crash-landed at Pieri with no casualties.

As authorities continue to investigate this latest tragedy, the safety of air travel remains a pressing concern in South Sudan.