Over 40 people dead in South Sudan cargo plane crash

                                 Scene of the crash                                  (C)Reuters

A cargo plane has crashed shortly after taking off from the airport in South Sudan’s capital, Juba, killing at least 41 people, an official and a Reuters witness said. A crew member and a child passenger survived the crash, presidential spokesman Ateny Wek Ateny told Reuters, adding that the plane was Russian built. The plane came down on the banks of the White Nile River, leaving a tail fin and lumps of fuselage strewn across vegetation close to the water.
The UN-backed radio station Radio Miraya reported: “Cargo plane heading to Paloch in Upper Nile State crashed just 800 metres from Juba International airport runway.” The plane may have had about 20 people on board, including crew and “probably” 10 to 15 passengers, Ateny said, but added: “We need to confirm how many people were on board”, reports the Guardian. Another picture after the cut

In addition, he said an unknown number of people were killed on the ground as the Antonov plane crashed near where some fishermen were working. “We don’t know the number of people that were killed on the ground,” he added. A police officer, who did not give his name, said at least 41 people died. A Reuters witness also said he saw 41 bodies at the scene.