14 people, including two Kenyans, killed in plane crash in Juba, South Sudan

Two Kenyans are among 14 people who lost their lives after a passenger plane crashed near Juba in South Sudan.

The aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd, went down about 20 kilometres southwest of Juba on Monday morning, according to the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA). Authorities said all 14 people on board died in the crash.

Reports indicate that the plane had taken off from Yei at around 9:15 am and was headed to Juba International Airport. However, communication with air traffic control was lost at about 9:43 am, less than 30 minutes after take-off.

Officials confirmed that the victims included two Kenyan nationals, 11 other passengers from South Sudan, and the pilot. No survivor was reported from the accident.

Preliminary findings suggest that bad weather and poor visibility may have contributed to the crash. Videos shared online showed the wreckage in flames in a hilly and misty area outside Juba.

Emergency teams and investigators were quickly sent to the crash scene to begin recovery efforts and establish the exact cause of the tragedy.

The accident comes at a time when authorities in Kenya are increasing investigations into air accidents involving Kenyan-registered aircraft operating in countries such as South Sudan and Somalia.

As of the time of publication, the identities of the two Kenyan victims had not been officially released, and the Kenyan government had not yet issued a formal statement on the incident.