Yei River County declares three days of mourning after deadly Luri plane crash

(YEI RIVER COUNTY) — Yei River County authorities have declared three days of mourning following the deadly plane crash in Luri payam, 20 kilometres southwest of Juba, that claimed the lives of 14 people.

The announcement was made by County Commissioner Samuel Henry Malimbo, who described the tragedy as one of the darkest moments for the county in recent years.

As part of the mourning period, Saturday, May 9, 2026, has been designated as an official public day of mourning.

A memorial ceremony will be held at Freedom Square from 10:00 AM to 12:00 PM, bringing together grieving families, local leaders, government officials, and members of the public in a collective show of solidarity.

The ill-fated aircraft, a Cessna 208 Caravan operated by CityLink Aviation Ltd., crashed early Monday morning shortly after departing Yei en route to Juba. All 14 people on board, including the pilot, died.

Preliminary findings suggest that adverse weather conditions, particularly low visibility, may have contributed to the crash.

Among the victims were several individuals travelling on official duties, including the county’s Public Prosecutor, identified as Charles. The remains of the victims have since been transported to Juba as authorities coordinate with families for burial arrangements.

Speaking during the press briefing, Yei River County Security Coordinator Juma David Augustine called for unity as the community contends with the loss.

“It is a painful loss for the county and the nation. We encourage the families to remain strong as investigations continue to establish the cause of the crash,” he said.

Meanwhile, Nancy Paska, the Yei Operations Manager for CityLink Aviation, said the incident came as a shock to the company, noting that all standard operational checks had been completed before takeoff and that no technical issues had been reported.

“I personally confirmed that everything was normal before departure,” she said. “When the aircraft failed to arrive in Juba, attempts to reach those on board were unsuccessful. We later received confirmation that it had crashed in Luri.”

Paska added that this is the first fatal accident involving the airline since it began operations in Yei.

The South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority is expected to lead investigations into the cause of the crash.

Plane crash tragedies

The latest crash adds to a series of aviation incidents that have plagued South Sudan since it gained independence in 2011.

In 2015, the country experienced one of the deadliest air accidents when a Russian-built Antonov cargo plane crashed shortly after takeoff from Juba International Airport, killing dozens of passengers and people on the ground. The aircraft was reportedly overloaded.

In 2017, another Antonov aircraft went down at Wau Airport amid poor landing conditions, though passengers survived after the plane caught fire on impact.

In September 2018, another tragedy struck in Yirol, where a passenger plane plunged into Lake Yirol while attempting to land, killing 20 people.

In August 2020, a cargo aircraft went down shortly after takeoff near Juba, killing seven people. Months later, in March 2021, a plane crash in Pieri claimed 10 lives, with officials citing engine failure.

More recently, in January 2025, a plane carrying oil workers crashed in Unity State, killing at least 20 people, with only one survivor reported. Early findings suggested mechanical issues and possible overloading.