Updated by Faith Barbara N Ruhinda at 1131 EAT on Tuesday 28 April 2026

A small passenger plane has crashed in South Sudan, killing all those on board, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) has confirmed.

Officials have dispatched an investigation team to the crash site, with preliminary findings suggesting the aircraft may have gone down due to adverse weather conditions, particularly poor visibility, the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA) said in a statement.

The aircraft crashed about 20km (12 miles) south-west of Juba on Monday morning. It had departed from Yei at 09:15 local time (07:15 GMT), with air traffic control losing contact approximately 30 minutes into the flight.

According to the flight manifest, all 15 people on board — including the pilot and 14 passengers — were killed. Thirteen of the victims were South Sudanese nationals, while two were Kenyan.
The aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan, was operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd..

South Sudan, the world’s youngest nation, continues to grapple with a fragile transport network, with its aviation sector plagued by persistent safety challenges.
Since gaining independence in 2011, the country has recorded more than 55 plane crashes, leaving dozens dead.

Investigations have frequently pointed to ageing aircraft, weak regulatory oversight and lapses in safety compliance. Additional factors such as overloading, poor weather and pilot error have also been cited.

In January 2025, at least 20 oil workers were killed when a plane en route to Juba crashed just minutes after take-off near oil fields in Unity State.

The country’s deadliest aviation disaster occurred in November 2015, when an Antonov aircraft crashed near Juba airport, claiming 41 lives.

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