A cargo plane carrying mixed goods to Malakal town on Sunday crash landed at the Malakal airport, the airport manager and eyewitnesses said.

Speaking to Radio Tamazuj, Bol Mijok Lual, the acting airport general manager, said the cargo plane Boeing 727, operated by Cush Air, was delivering goods to Malakal, the capital of Upper Nile State.

“What happened was that a large cargo plane landed and crashed at our airport at 11 a.m. This plane landed a few meters outside the runway, causing its tyres to burst and turn inside out,” Bol narrated. As a result, the plane lost control and hit a plane that had previously crashed. This is a loss because the aircraft is damaged beyond repair, as its bottom part split.”

He added, “Seven people were aboard the plane, including six crew members. They are all in good condition, but one person sustained injuries.”

An eyewitness who identified himself only as Robert recounted the incident: “The way this plane was coming, it was too down, and the plane was too big. The plane landed some meters away from the runway, so it crashed,” he said.

South Sudan has witnessed several plane crashes in recent years.

In the last two weeks, a military cargo plane carrying mixed goods to Yida in Ruweng Administrative Area crashed at Yida Airstrip.

In February 2024, a passenger aircraft operated by Africano Company which was involved in transporting returnees who fled the war in Sudan, crash-landed at Malakal Airport. No one was reportedly hurt in the accident.  

In April 2023, a cargo plane carrying passengers crash-landed at Juba International Airport. All the passengers came out unscathed.

On 2 March 2021, a Let L-410 Turbolet of South Sudan Supreme Airlines crashed in Pieri, Uror County on a domestic flight to Yuai Airstrip, South Sudan.

In August 2020, eight people lost their lives, while a single passenger survived with injuries when a cargo plane crashed into a farm in the Kemeru area minutes after it took off from the Juba International Airport.

In 2015, 36 people were killed when a Soviet-era Antonov plane crashed just after takeoff from Juba.

In 2017, 37 people had a miraculous escape after their plane hit a fire truck on a runway in Wau before bursting into flames.

19 people were killed in 2018 when a small aircraft carrying passengers from Juba to Yirol crashed.

South Sudan lacks proper road connectivity, forcing people to rely on air transport.