BY Samad Uthman
A Tanzanian passenger plane has crashed into Lake Victoria while landing at Bukoba Airport.
The incident happened on Sunday.
One end of the runway at Bukoba airport lies right next to the shores of Lake Victoria.
TheCable gathered that the airline, operated by Precision Air, was carrying 43 people, including 39 passengers and four crew members.
Video circulating on social media showed the aircraft submerging in the water with emergency responders coordinating rescue efforts from nearby boats.
The plane was flying from Das es Salaam to Bukoba via Mwanza when it reportedly encountered a storm and heavy rain.
Precision Air is Tanzania’s largest private airline, partly owned by Kenya Airways. It was founded in 1993 and runs domestic and regional flights.
BBC reported that 26 of the passengers were later rescued and have been admitted to a hospital.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan has expressed condolences to the victims and called for calm as the rescue operation continues.
“I have received with sadness the information of the crash of the Precision Air flight at Lake Victoria, in the Kagera region,” the president posted on her Twitter.
“I send my condolences to all those affected by this incident. Let’s continue to be calm as the rescue operation continues, and we pray to God to help us.”
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