Transport Minister forms committee to investigate deadly Luri plane crash

(JUBA)-The Ministry of Transport has formed a high-level fact-finding committee to investigate the fatal plane crash that killed 14 people in Central Equatoria State.

In a ministerial order seen by Access Radio on April 28, signed by Minister of Transport Rizik Zakaria Hassan, the multi-agency team will probe the circumstances surrounding the crash of the aircraft, registration 5Y-NOK, operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd.

The aircraft went down on the morning of April 27 in the Luri Mountains, about 20 kilometres southwest of Juba, claiming the lives of all passengers and crew on board.

According to the ministerial order, the seven-member committee has been tasked with determining the facts, conditions, and circumstances that led to the crash. It will also examine possible human, technical, and environmental factors that may have contributed to the accident.

The investigation will further review operational procedures, documentation, and technical capacity, before issuing recommendations aimed at preventing similar incidents in the future.

The committee is composed of representatives from key government institutions, including the Ministry of Transport, South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority, Criminal Investigation Department, National Security Service, and the transport committee at the national legislature.

It is expected to submit its findings within one month.

The incident has sent shockwaves across the country, particularly in Yei River County, where many of the victims were from.

The plane had departed Yei on a routine domestic flight to Juba when it reportedly lost contact shortly before reaching Juba International Airport. Authorities later confirmed that it had crashed in the Luri area, with no survivors.

Among those killed were government officials and ordinary citizens travelling for official and personal engagements.

The crash has once again drawn attention to aviation safety challenges in South Sudan, where air transport remains a critical lifeline due to limited road infrastructure.

Smaller aircraft such as the Cessna Caravan are widely used to connect remote areas, but the sector has faced recurring accidents over the years, often linked to weather conditions, maintenance concerns, and limited regulatory capacity.