Nineteen people have died after a plane crashed into Lake Victoria during adverse weather conditions, according to multiple reports.
Theplane crashedSunday near the lake’s shore as itattempted to landat the Bukoba Airport, BBC News and CNN reported.
Kagera province police commander William Mwampaghale said the aircraft was an estimated 100 meters (328 feet) in the air when “it encountered problems and bad weather” and “plunged into the water,” according to the Associated Press.
Precision Air said 24 of the 43 passengers on Sunday’s commercial flight survived the deadly crash, per the outlets.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa confirmed the death toll on Monday, the AP reported.
At a funeral service for crash victims on Monday, Transport Minister Makame Mbarawa said the plane ran into “a sudden change of weather conditions” just before 8:30 a.m. on Sunday, according to CNN.
The plane encountered heavy rains, strong winds and downdrafts while attempting to land at the airport, Mbarawa explained.
The National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA)describes downdraftsas “a small-scale column of air that rapidly sinks toward the ground,” according to its website.
SITIDE PROTASE/AFP via Getty
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Abdul Nuri told BBC News that he and others witnessed the accident first-hand while waiting for his flight. “We were really shocked,” Nuri explained. “People panicked and some started crying and shouting.”
Richard Komba, who was on the plane, told the outlet that there was “heavy turbulence” shortly before the crash.
Officials are working to identify the victims and notify their families, Majaliwa said, per CNN. Two pilots are believed to be among the dead, he added.
“Yesterday is a tragic accident that we believe will never happen again,” he said at Monday’s funeral, per the report.
The airport was closed until further notice, according to BBC News.
source: people.com
