Five killed in South Sudan cargo plane crash

Civilians stand near the burning wreckage of an Antonov-26 plane operated by Optimum Aviation, that crashed shortly after take-off from Juba Airport in Juba, South Sudan

Five people died on Tuesday when a small cargo plane crashed shortly after take-off from Juba Airport in South Sudan, airport officials said.

Authorities have started investigating the incident which involved an Antonov-26 plane operated by Optimum Aviation, a local firm, said Kur Koul, director general of the airport.

The victims were all crew members of the plane, which was carrying drums of fuel to Maban county in Upper Nile State.

South Sudan, which has suffered from a debilitating conflict in the past decade, lacks a reliable land transportation infrastructure, forcing some cargo to be moved by air.

Reporting by Denis Dumo, Editing by Duncan Miriri and Ed Osmond

SOURCE: REUTERS