Plane conveying 43 passengers crashes into Lake Victoria in Tanzania

November 6, 2022 2:22 pm

A Tanzanian passenger plane has crashed into Lake Victoria while landing at Bukoba Airport.

The incident happened on Sunday.

One end of the runway at Bukoba airport lies right next to the shores of Lake Victoria.

TheCable gathered that the airline, operated by Precision Air, was carrying 43 people, including 39 passengers and four crew members.

Video circulating on social media showed the aircraft submerging in the water with emergency responders coordinating rescue efforts from nearby boats.

#DODOMA

Tanzania's passengers plane Precision Air flight goes down in Lake Victoria while trying to land at an airport in Bukoba "due to storm and heavy rains", the country’s state broadcaster, TBC is reporting.
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15 people have been rescued so far.

https://t.co/SRet0ltFxU

— Kennedy Wandera (@KennedyWandera_) November 6, 2022

The Precision Air ATR 42-500 (5H-PWE) has crash landed into Lake Victoria due to bad weather as it attempted to land at Bukoba Airport in Tanzania. Rescue operations of 49 passengers on board underway. My thoughts are with the passengers, crew and families of all those affected. pic.twitter.com/7wW41tYzVw

— 𝐉𝐆 (@JamalGaddafi) November 6, 2022

The plane was flying from Das es Salaam to Bukoba via Mwanza when it reportedly encountered a storm and heavy rain.

Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest private airline, partly owned by Kenya Airways. It was founded in 1993 and runs domestic and regional flights.

BBC reported that 26 of the passengers were later rescued and have been admitted to a hospital.

President Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed condolences to the victims and called for calm as the rescue operation continues.

“I have received with sadness the information of the crash of the Precision Air flight at Lake Victoria, in the Kagera region,” the president posted on her Twitter.

“I send my condolences to all those affected by this incident. Let’s continue to be calm as the rescue operation continues, and we pray to God to help us.”

Nimepokea kwa masikitiko taarifa ya ajali ya ndege ya Shirika la Precision katika Ziwa Victoria, mkoani Kagera. Natuma salamu za pole kwa wote walioathirika na ajali hii. Tuendelee kuwa watulivu wakati huu zoezi la uokoaji likiendelea huku tukimuomba Mwenyezi Mungu atusaidie.

— Samia Suluhu (@SuluhuSamia) November 6, 2022