Commercial plane goes down into Lake Victoria

Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest freshwater lake located in Tanzania, has been the location of a devastating flight accident on Sunday, as a Precision Air commercial air plane crashed soon after pilots failed to keep up with the poor weather conditions, just moments before landing in Bukoba.

In a revised statement issued on Sunday evening, the airline confirmed the death toll as well as the number of lucky survivors - 24.

“Precision Air extends its deepest sympathies to the families and friends of the passengers and crew involved in this tragic incident. The company will strive to provide them with information and whatever assistance they will require in this difficult time.

“The names of passengers and crew on board the aircraft will not be released until all next-of-kin have been notified”, the airline stated.

Soon after the accident, Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa also declared for the media:

“We’re starting to pull out the luggage and personal items from the aircraft. A team of doctors and security agencies have started the process of identifying the dead and notifying the families.”

43 people, including crew members and passengers, were aboard the plane operating an internal route when it fell into the lake. As explained later, the plane departed from the city of Dar es Salaam at 6 a.m. and was expected in the town of Bukoba at 8.30 a.m. local time.

“But at 8.53 a.m., our Operations Control Center got a report that that aircraft had not arrived,” Precision Air CEO Patrick Mwanri commented.

Rescue teams promptly responded to the emergency calls following the crash and did their best to bring the 24 survivors ashore. At the same time, Precision Air established a Crisis Management Center in charge of keeping the affected passenger families updated on the rescue efforts.

Tanzania’s President Samia Suluhu Hassan also tweeted:

“I have received with sadness the information of the crash of the Precision Air flight at Lake Victoria, in the Kagera region.

“I send my condolences to all those affected by this incident. Let’s continue to be calm as the rescue operation continues and we pray to God to help us.”

So far, heavy rainfall and violent winds are believed to be the official causes of the crash.

 

Source: edition.cnn.com