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Updated 28 April 2026 - Corrected passenger count from earlier reports.
Crash details
A small passenger aircraft crashed in South Sudan on Monday, killing all 14 people on board, the country's civil aviation authority confirmed. The plane went down approximately 20 kilometers southwest of the capital, Juba.
The Cessna 208 Caravan, operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd, departed from Yei at 09:15 local time (07:15 GMT). Air traffic control lost contact with the flight roughly 30 minutes into its journey to Juba.
Initial findings
South Sudan's Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) stated that preliminary reports suggest the crash may have been caused by adverse weather conditions, specifically low visibility. A team has been dispatched to the crash site to conduct a full investigation.
Victims identified
According to the passenger manifest, the 14 victims included 12 South Sudanese nationals and two Kenyans. The group consisted of 13 passengers and one pilot.
Safety concerns in South Sudan's aviation sector
South Sudan, the world's youngest nation, has struggled with aviation safety since gaining independence in 2011. Over 55 plane crashes have been recorded in the past decade, resulting in numerous fatalities.
Contributing factors to these accidents often include aging aircraft, weak regulatory oversight, overloading, pilot error, and challenging weather conditions. In January 2025, a plane carrying 20 oil workers crashed shortly after takeoff near Unity state's oil fields, killing everyone on board.
The deadliest incident occurred in November 2015, when an Antonov aircraft crashed near Juba International Airport, claiming 41 lives.
Response and next steps
Investigators are expected to release a preliminary report in the coming days. The SSCAA has not yet commented on potential regulatory changes following this latest tragedy.
