Tanzanian Prime Minister Kassim Majaliwa said the death toll from Sunday’s plane crash in Lake Victoria has jumped to 19, reported The Reuters.
“All Tanzanians are with you in mourning the 19 people who lost lives during this accident,” Mr Majaliwa said.
According to the state Tanzania Broadcasting Corporation (TBC), the Precision Air-operated Flight PW494 with dozens of passengers aboard plunged into Lake Victoria while approaching the northwestern city of Bukoba.
The airline said the aircraft was an ATR 42-500, manufactured by Toulouse-based Franco-Italian firm ATR, and had 39 passengers including an infant on board. It said it had dispatched rescuers and investigators to the scene at around 0553 GMT (08:53 am local time) on Sunday. The Tanzanian airline expressed its “deepest sympathies” over the accident.
President Samia Suluhu Hassan expressed her condolences to the families affected by the accident.
Regional commissioner Albert Chalamila said 39 passengers, two pilots and two cabin crew, were on the flight PW494 that took off from Dar es Salaam for the lakeside city in Kagera region.
Mr Chalamila said the rescue team and authorities have managed to rescue 26 people who were taken to the government’s referral hospital. He said the rescue operation is still ongoing.
Precision Air also said it had sent rescuers to the incident site.
“An investigation team consisting of Precision Air technical staff and TAA (Tanzania Airports Authority) has also departed to join the rescue team on the ground,” the Tanzanian airline said.
The company said it will issue next update as soon as more information is available from the accident scene.
The African Union Commission chairman Moussa Faki Mahamat also shared his condolences over the incident.
“Our hearts and prayers go to the families of passengers on-board a plane that crashed into Lake Victoria, with our full solidarity to the Government & people of #Tanzania,” he said on Twitter.
