In a devastating incident on Sunday, a passenger plane operated by Precision Air crashed into Lake Victoria in Tanzania, claiming the lives of nineteen individuals on board. The tragic event unfolded as the aircraft, Flight PW494, attempted to land amidst storms and heavy rain.
According to reports from the state Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), the plane hit the water near Bukoba airport, with the wreckage almost fully submerged upon impact. Rescue efforts were swiftly mobilized, with boats rushing to the scene to extract trapped passengers from the submerged aircraft.
Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa expressed condolences to the nation, acknowledging the profound loss of the nineteen lives. “All Tanzanians join you in mourning these 19 people who have lost their lives,” Majaliwa addressed reporters in the lakeside city of Bukoba, near the crash site.
As investigations into the tragic incident commence, authorities are grappling with determining the precise sequence of events leading to the crash. Reuters reported that Flight PW494, which departed from the commercial capital Dar-es-Salaam, experienced the fatal crash at 8:53 a.m. (0553 GMT) while approaching Bukoba airport.
Precision Air, Tanzania’s largest privately owned airline, issued a statement confirming the details of the flight and the passenger manifest. The ill-fated plane carried a total of 39 passengers, including an infant, along with four crew members.
The aviation community and the nation as a whole mourn the loss of those aboard Flight PW494, as questions linger regarding the circumstances surrounding the tragic accident. As investigations progress, authorities and airline officials are expected to provide further updates on the cause of the crash and measures to prevent such incidents in the future.
