Passenger plane plunges into Lake Victoria in Tanzania
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The rescue operation is still ongoing as 26 out of the 43 passengers were taken to hospital.
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Passenger plane plunges into Lake Victoria in Tanzania
A plane carrying 43 passengers crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania early on Sunday owing to terrible weather, just before it was scheduled to arrive in the northern city of Bukoba, authorities said, with rescue attempts underway.
"There was an accident involving a Precision Air plane which... crashed into water about 100 meters from the airport," regional police commander William Mwampaghale told reporters at Bukoba airport.
A Precision Air plane crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania. 15 people were rescued, no data yet on how many passengers were on board. pic.twitter.com/AcQ85Ss5yG
— Bo Mbindwane (@mbindwane) November 6, 2022
Regional commissioner Albert Chalamila said 43 people were on board the flight from Dar Es-Salam to the lakeside city in Kagera district, including 39 passengers, two pilots, and two cabin personnel.
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"As we speak, we have managed to rescue 26 people who were taken to our referral hospital," Chalamila said.
"The rescue operation is still ongoing and we are communicating with the pilots," he said, adding that more details would be shared later.
JUST IN: A plane has crashed into Lake Victoria in Bukoba in Tanzania’s Kagera region. Rescue efforts are underway. The plane belongs to Precision Air. #PrecisionAirCrash pic.twitter.com/Q5wfjbOB2T
— Rachael Akidi (@rakidi) November 6, 2022
Precision Air, Tanzania's largest private airline, confirmed the tragedy in a terse statement. "The rescue team has been dispatched to the scene and more information will be released in 2 hours' time," the airline said.
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Footage broadcast on local media showed how the plane submerged as rescuers dashed through the water to rescue survivors. Using ropes and cranes, emergency personnel attempted to raise the plane out of the sea.
Precision Air plane crashes into Lake Victoria while trying to land in Tanzania; no word on casualties pic.twitter.com/EpRrgPvAVB
— BNO News (@BNONews) November 6, 2022
President Samia Suluhu Hassan extended sympathy to everyone injured by the accident. "Let's continue to be calm while the rescue operation continues as we pray to God to help us," she said on Twitter.
