29-1-2025 (SOUTH SUDAN) A devastating aviation tragedy unfolded on Wednesday morning when a light aircraft carrying oil industry personnel crashed at Unity oilfield airport, claiming the lives of 20 passengers, with just one survivor.
The ill-fated flight, which was bound for the capital city Juba, was transporting employees of the Greater Pioneer Operating Company (GPOC), a prominent petroleum consortium that includes China National Petroleum Corporation and the state-owned Nile Petroleum Corporation.
Unity State’s Information Minister, Gatwech Bipal, confirmed that among the deceased were two Chinese nationals and one Indian citizen. Initially reported as having 18 casualties, the death toll tragically rose when two critically injured passengers succumbed to their injuries following the incident.
The circumstances surrounding the catastrophic crash remain under investigation, with authorities yet to release details about the cause of the accident.
This latest aviation disaster adds to a concerning pattern of aircraft incidents in South Sudan’s troubled airspace. The nation’s aviation safety record has been marred by several fatal crashes in recent years. A particularly haunting incident occurred in September 2018, when 19 lives were lost after a small aircraft plummeted whilst en route from Juba to Yirol.
In an earlier tragedy dating back to 2015, a Russian-manufactured cargo aircraft, which had been adapted to carry passengers, crashed shortly after departing from Juba’s airport, resulting in dozens of fatalities.
The incident highlights ongoing concerns about aviation safety standards in the region, particularly in the challenging operating environment of South Sudan’s oil industry, which relies heavily on air transport for personnel movements.
Local authorities are expected to launch a thorough investigation into Wednesday’s crash, as questions emerge about aircraft maintenance standards and safety protocols in the nation’s aviation sector.
