What caused Juba Plane crash? Survivor speaks out

The lone survivor of Saturday August 22nd plane crash in Juba said he believes engine failure caused the plane to crash near the Juba International Airport.

A Russian-made Antonov-26 cargo plane carrying motorbikes, motorbike parts, food, and other items crashed three kilometers from Juba International Airport, killing seven of eight passengers and crew on board.

Peter Paul Nhial, the lone survivor of the crash, suffered third degree burns on his entire body and a broken right leg, and spinal cord. He describes told The Insider what happened.

“As we took off from Juba International Airport to Aweil via Wau, we heard a sound on the engine on the right side of the plane. When that happened, the plane started to descend towards the ground.”

Nhial said the pilot immediately informed passengers he was turning back to the airport, but it was too late beceaus seconds later the engine shut down as he tried to turn back to the airport.

The plane crashed in the Referendum or Kameru residential areas.

“The pilot lost control and could not turn back to land. As he tried to turn, then the engine shut down, the pilots could not do anything.” Nhial said.

“The plane could not ascend further upwards and could not turn either. So, it fell and burst into flames and scattered us apart. When it crashed and hit the ground people were thrown apart.” The 45 -year-old told The Insider on his sick bedside at the Modern Specialists Hospital where he is receiving treatment in Juba Town. 

 Nhial was not fully conscious when he was discovered at the crash scene. Witnesses say he got out of the fire but could not go anywhere because he was burned and his whole body seemed not to function well except his right arm. A claim Nhial confirmed during this interview. He broke his right leg, spinal code and also suffered third degree burns all over his body. The insider could not independently verify this with the doctor’s report.

The AN-26 was built in 1969 and owned by a South Sudanese company called South West Aviation.

In November 2015, South Sudan banned the Russian-made Antonov-12 from operating within its airspace after a fatal plane crash in Upper Nile. In April last year, President Kiir banned planes from entering South Sudan that had been in service for more than 20 years, limiting them to cargo only.

David Subek, C-E-O of the South Sudan Civil Aviation Authority said a plane’s age does not matter and an investigation will determine the cause of the crash.

“If you are talking about the age, how many aircrafts all over the world have crashed and these are modern new aircrafts?” Subek asked.

“Let us not push that because the aircrafts are old or because we don’t have regulations. There are many reasons an accident can happen whether we like it or not, whether the aircraft is new or old.” Added Subek. 

South Sudan Transport and Roads minister Madut Biar said due to COVID 19 restrictions, he suspected some aviation companies could not service their aircrafts.

“when coronavirus happened, some of the planes could not fly back to where they are supposed to be serviced in the region or even beyond. Or maybe the engineers that were supposed to come and service the planes here on the ground, were locked down because of the coronavirus.” Minister Biar said. 

Biar added that his ministry and the Civil Aviation Authority has formed a technical committee to investigate the cause of the crash and ensure justice for the victims.

He emphasized that once the cause of the plane crash is established, government will take harsh measures to ensure a similar incent does not occur

“The government is going to take action or remedial measures so that such accidents are reduced including even the pilots themselves and the service companies.” Biar told The Insider.

Companies operating in South Sudan must adhere to certain specifications of their aircrafts, including weight limits and regular maintenance procedures according to the Civil Aviation Authority. 

The investigation team will send the plane’s Black Box to Russian manufacturers to shed light on what caused the crash. The transport minister has not said whether or not investigators have yet recovered the black box.