Two Kenyans Feared Dead as Passenger Plane Crashes Near Juba in Mid-Air Silence Mystery
Two Kenyan nationals are feared to be among 14 people killed after a passenger aircraft crashed near South Sudan’s capital, Juba, in what authorities have described as a tragic aviation incident under investigation.
The aircraft — a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd — went down approximately 20 kilometres southwest of Juba on Monday morning, according to a statement issued by the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority (SSCAA).
Confirming the incident, the aviation body said: “The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority confirms that an aircraft crash occurred approximately 20km southwest of Juba today. The aircraft involved was a Cessna 208 Caravan, registration 5Y-NOK, operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd.”
The ill-fated plane had departed Yei at 9:15am en route to Juba International Airport but lost communication with air traffic control at 9:43am — just 28 minutes into what was expected to be a routine domestic flight.
On board were 13 passengers and one pilot. Authorities confirmed that two of the passengers were Kenyan nationals, while the remaining 12 were South Sudanese. The identities of the victims have not yet been officially released.
Moments after communication was lost, reports emerged of a downed aircraft in the region, triggering an emergency response. Rescue and recovery teams were swiftly dispatched to the crash site to assess the situation and gather critical evidence.
While investigations are still in their early stages, preliminary findings suggest that poor weather conditions — particularly low visibility — may have played a role in the crash. However, officials have cautioned that the exact cause remains unknown pending a full inquiry.
The tragedy comes amid growing scrutiny over aviation safety involving Kenyan-operated aircraft in the region. Notably, Kenya’s Ministry of Roads and Transport recently gazetted a special committee tasked with investigating a series of air incidents in South Sudan and Somalia.
According to the notice, the committee will review preliminary accident reports from the past five years involving Kenyan-registered or operated aircraft. It is also mandated to analyse data, conduct interviews with aviation stakeholders, and recommend measures to prevent future disasters.
The panel has further been granted powers to co-opt additional experts to ensure comprehensive investigations into any technical or operational failures.
As of publication, the Kenyan government — including the Ministry of Foreign and Diaspora Affairs — had yet to issue an official statement regarding the deaths of the two Kenyan nationals.
The crash adds to mounting concerns over regional air safety, particularly involving light aircraft operating under challenging conditions across East Africa.
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