November 06, (THEWILL) – A Precision Air flight on Sunday, crashed into Lake Victoria while trying to land at an airport in Bukoba, Tanzania, the country’s state broadcaster reported.
Already, rescue operation is under way to save passengers on board the flight.
Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC) said 15 people had been rescued so far from the Precision Air jet, but it was unknown how many passengers were on board or whether there were any fatalities.
Police said they did not know of any casualties so far.
A spokesperson for Precision Air said flight number PW 494 from Tanzanian capital, Dar es Salaam, to Bukoba, was involved in an accident as it approached landing.
TBC reported that bad weather caused the Sunday morning crash.
Tanzanian president, Samia Suluhu Hassan, has called for calm as the rescue operation continued.
“I have received with sadness the news of the accident involving Precision Air’s plane,” she tweeted. “Let’s be calm at this moment when rescuers are continuing with the rescue mission while praying to God to help us.”
Bukoba Airport is on the shores of Lake Victoria, Africa’s largest lake, in northeast Tanzania.
Precision Air, based in Dar-es-Salaam, has been flying commercially since 1993. It has not previously suffered any fatal accidents. Like many other African airlines, it faces substantial financial challenges.
The airline flies exclusively ATR propeller jets. The ATR42 and ATR72 have been flying since the 1980s and are well regarded in terms of safety.
About the Author
Anthony Awunor, is a business correspondent who holds a Bachelor of Arts Degree in Linguistics (UNILAG). He is also an alumnus of the Nigerian College of Aviation Technology (NCAT), Zaria Kaduna State. He lives in Lagos.
