Africa-Press – South-Sudan. TheCouncil of Ministers has directed the Minister of Transport, Madut Biar Yel toinspect planes operating in the country for airworthiness after an Antonov 26belonging to local operator crashed shortly after taking off from JubaInternational Airport (JIA) on Tuesday killing five people onboard.
TheMinister of Information and Government Spokesperson, Michael Makuei Lueth saidthe cabinet in its regular meeting chaired by President Salva Kiir on Fridaydirected the Transport Minister operating to embark on thoroughinspection of aircrafts to avoid such incidents.
MichaelMakuei who said the cause of the Tuesday deadly plane crash was not known, alsoadmitted that there were outdated planes operating in the country, saying ithas compromised the reputation of South Sudan.
“…theMinister [of Transport] has already formed a committee to investigate into theissue [plane crash] and has been fully authorized to follow up theimplementation to ensure that all the planes that are operating in South Sudanare properly checked,” he said.
“Someof them [planes] are actually not flying elsewhere except in South Sudan andthis is very dangerous. So the Minister has been directed to make sure that allthe planes that fly here in South Sudan are secured and this is for thesecurity of our people and the reputation our country as well,” he added.
TheSoviet-era antonov An-26 was transporting fuel for UN’s World Food Programme toMaban County in Upper Nile State when it crashed in Gondokoro few miles away from JIA and burst into flames which burned the bodiesof its occupants beyond recognition, according to the aviation authorities.
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