On January 29, 2025, 20 people lost their lives after a Beechcraft 1900D aircraft, carrying oil workers from the Unity oilfields in Rubkona County, crashed just 10 minutes after takeoff.
The aircraft with registration 5X-RHB was reportedly hired by the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), an oil firm operating in South Sudan.
According to local officials, the aircraft had 21 people on board, including two pilots. Fifteen of them were South Sudanese nationals, two were Chinese citizens and one was Indian. The crew members were from Uganda.
Moreover, the sole survivor is in critical condition and has been taken to a hospital for treatment, State Minister Lam Tungwar Bipal confirmed.
Possible Causes: Nose-Dive or Collision?
Authorities and eyewitness reports indicate significant damage to the front of the aircraft, suggesting it may have hit an object on landing or experienced a nose-dive crash. However, the exact cause of the accident remains under investigation.
Aviation safety analysts suggest mechanical failure, weather conditions, or pilot error could have contributed to the crash, but no official report has been released.
History of Aviation Incidents in South Sudan
South Sudan has seen multiple air accidents in recent years, raising concerns about the safety of chartered and commercial flights in the region. In 2020, a cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba International Airport, killing all passengers and crew on board.
The South Sudanese government, alongside aviation authorities, is expected to launch a full investigation into the latest tragedy, with assistance from international aviation bodies.
