Nineteen dead after passenger plane crashes into Lake Victoria

Fishermen have been among the many first to achieve the plane and assist folks escape (Image: Reuters/AFP/AP)

A passenger aircraft crashed into Lake Victoria solely round 100 metres from touchdown on the close by airport, killing 19 folks.

Native authorities mentioned 26 of the 43 folks on board had been rescued and brought to hospital after the crash in Tanzania.

Photographs from the scene confirmed how the aircraft was principally submerged within the lake, with passengers having to be pulled from the water.

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa gave the brand new loss of life toll, up from an authentic estimate of three casualties.

The Precision Air flight had been travelling from the coastal metropolis of Dar es Salaam, the nation’s largest metropolis and monetary hub, to Bukoba within the north west, the capital of Kagera area.

Kagera province police commander William Mwampaghale mentioned: ‘We have now managed to save lots of fairly plenty of folks.

The aircraft crashed near the shore of Lake Victoria so the location of crash was nonetheless pretty shallow

‘When the plane was about 100 metres midair, it encountered issues and unhealthy climate.

‘It was raining and the aircraft plunged into the water. Every thing is beneath management.’

Fishermen have been among the many first to achieve the plane and assist folks escape.

Mr Mwampaghale mentioned rescue efforts have been persevering with.

Precision Air is a Tanzanian airline firm, and the aircraft was an ATR-42, made by the Franco-Italian agency ATR.

The 2 pilots are believed to have been critically injured and will have died, with no particulars about the reason for the crash but given save that it occurred in unhealthy climate.

These ready on the airport witnessed what occurred, with Abdul Nuri telling the BBC: ‘We have been actually shocked. Folks panicked and a few began crying and shouting.

‘On the arrivals gate folks panicked as properly – most of them have been ready to welcome their family members.’

Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa mentioned: ‘We're nonetheless figuring out the our bodies, however it's extremely doubtless that the pilots may need perished.’

President Samia Suluhu Hassan tweeted: ‘Let’s proceed to be calm whereas the rescue operation continues as we pray to God to assist us.’

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