Tanzania plane crash: 19 dead as Precision Air flight goes down in lake
Cross country flight had ‘accident’ as it came in to land, says airline
Your support helps us to tell the story
From reproductive rights to climate change to Big Tech, The Independent is on the ground when the story is developing. Whether it's investigating the financials of Elon Musk's pro-Trump PAC or producing our latest documentary, 'The A Word', which shines a light on the American women fighting for reproductive rights, we know how important it is to parse out the facts from the messaging.
At such a critical moment in US history, we need reporters on the ground. Your donation allows us to keep sending journalists to speak to both sides of the story.
The Independent is trusted by Americans across the entire political spectrum. And unlike many other quality news outlets, we choose not to lock Americans out of our reporting and analysis with paywalls. We believe quality journalism should be available to everyone, paid for by those who can afford it.
Your support makes all the difference.Nineteen people were killed when a passenger plane crashed into a lake in Tanazania.
The Precision Air flight landed in Lake Victoria during treacherous weather conditions as it approached an airport in Bukoba, Tanzania, the country’s state broadcaster reported.
Prime minister Kassim Majaliwa gave the new death toll, up from three. Earlier, local authorities said 26 passengers were rescued and taken to a hospital. It was not clear if any of those who were rescued died at the hospital.
A spokesperson for Precision Air said flight number PW 494 from Tanzanian capital Dar es Salaam to Bukoba was involved in an accident as it approached landing.
Tanzanian Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) reported that bad weather caused Sunday morning’s crash.
The plane had departed from the capital Dar es Salaam and “fell in the Lake Victoria this morning due to storm and heavy rains”, it said.
News reports showed photos of the plane mostly submerged in the lake and said rescue work had begun.
Tanzanian president Samia Suluhu Hassan called for calm as the rescue operation continued.
“I have received with sadness the news of the accident involving Precision Air’s plane,” she tweeted. “Let’s be calm at this moment when rescuers are continuing with the rescue mission while praying to God to help us.”
Bukoba Airport is on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, in northeast Tanzania.
Precision Air, based in Dar es Salaam, has been flying commercially since 1993. It has not previously suffered any fatal accidents. Like many other African airlines, it faces substantial financial challenges.
The airline flies exclusively ATR propellor jets. The ATR42 and ATR72 have been flying since the 1980s and are well regarded in terms of safety.
The last fatal accident involving an ATR was in Iran in 2018.
Additional reporting by AP
Subscribe to Independent Premium to bookmark this article
Want to bookmark your favourite articles and stories to read or reference later? Start your Independent Premium subscription today.
Join our commenting forum
Join thought-provoking conversations, follow other Independent readers and see their replies
Comments