South Sudan Plane Crash Near Juba Kills 14, Aircraft Lost Contact Mid-Flight in Poor Weather

A Cessna 208B Grand Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation crashed on Monday on the outskirts of Juba , killing all 14 people on board , including the pilot, according to the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) .

The aircraft was operating a domestic passenger flight from Yei to Juba International Airport when it departed at around 9:15 a.m. local time . Officials said it lost communication with air traffic control approximately 30 minutes into the flight , shortly before it was due to arrive in the capital.

The wreckage was later found in a remote, hilly and misty area about 20 km (12 miles) southwest of Juba , where the aircraft reportedly caught fire on impact. Video footage shared on social media showed burnt debris scattered across the crash site .

Preliminary findings from aviation authorities suggest the plane may have gone down due to adverse weather conditions and poor visibility , although investigators have not ruled out technical malfunction or other operational factors . A formal inquiry has been launched, and a civil aviation investigation team has been deployed to recover flight data and examine maintenance records .

Officials confirmed that the victims included 12 South Sudanese nationals and 2 Kenyan nationals , with no survivors among the passengers or crew. The aircraft has been identified as bearing registration 5Y-NOK .

The crash has once again highlighted concerns over aviation safety in South Sudan, where difficult terrain, limited infrastructure, and challenging weather conditions have contributed to a history of air accidents. Authorities said further details will be released as the investigation progresses.