Russian Antonov Cargo Plane Crashed in South Sudan Killing Dozens

Pesawat barang jenis Antonov yang dicarter pihak Bulog terperosok sekitar 350 m dari landasan bandara Wamena, Papua, Kamis (28/1). Diduga kecelakaan terjadi akibat kerusakan pada rem pesawat. (Antara)

Liputan6.com, Jakarta - An Antonov Soviet-made cargo plane reportedly crashed near South Sudan’s airport shortly after taking off. The plane was headed to Paloich in the Upper Nile Region. Overloading, technical issues are among possible reasons for the crash.

The incident took the lives of at least 41 people on board. Two passengers fortunately survived but reports show that people on the ground may have been killed due to the crash.

Such information however, remains a speculation as other reports claim that there were no people on the ground when the tragedy occurred.

There were 12 passengers and six crew members on board, 5 of them Armenian and 1 Russian. The plane was owned by the local Allied Services air carrier, and was already 45 years old.

“Normally (this flight) used to carry 12 people, but the problem is they added more people,” Assistant operations manager for Combined Air Services, Kenyi Galla stated as cited in News.com.au.

“This plane is just for cargo, not for passengers. It was just chartered for goods,” he further stated.

The Russian Foreign Ministry is checking information about the crash of a Russian cargo plane in South Sudan, the Russian Ambassador to Indonesia, Mr. Mikhail Galuzin stated earlier today during press briefing held at his residence in Central Jakarta.

(Akp/Tnt)