Tanzania was struck by tragedy on Sunday as a passenger plane, Flight PW494 operated by Precision Air, crashed into Lake Victoria while attempting to land at a nearby airport. The devastating incident, confirmed by both Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa and the airline, resulted in the loss of nineteen lives.
Reports from the Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) indicated that the aircraft hit the water amid storms and heavy rain, prompting swift rescue efforts. Despite the challenges posed by almost fully submerged wreckage, rescuers in boats worked tirelessly to extract trapped passengers.
Prime Minister Majaliwa expressed the nation’s collective grief, extending condolences to the families and loved ones of the victims. Meanwhile, investigations into the crash are underway to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragic event.
According to Precision Air, the flight departed from Dar-es-Salaam and “crash-landed” at 8:53 a.m. local time as it approached Bukoba airport. The plane was carrying a total of 39 passengers, including an infant, along with four crew members.
Initially, reports suggested that 26 individuals had been rescued from the crash site, but later revisions by emergency services indicated that 24 survivors had been accounted for.
Eyewitness testimonies provided harrowing details of the moments leading up to the crash, with one witness recounting seeing the plane flying unsteadily in poor visibility before veering off course and plunging into the lake.
Miraculously, both pilots survived the crash and maintained communication with rescue workers from the cockpit. However, they later reported a dwindling oxygen supply, further complicating rescue efforts.
As the nation mourns the lives lost in this tragic accident, authorities and aviation experts continue their investigation to uncover the causes of the crash and prevent similar incidents in the future.
